Saginaw Man Sentenced for Unlawful Imprisonment, Strangulation, Suffocation, Interstate Domestic Violence, and Witness Tampering Committed on the Isabella Reservation

BAY CITY – A Saginaw, Michigan man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for unlawful imprisonment, strangulation of an intimate or dating partner, suffocation of an intimate or dating partner, interstate domestic violence, and six counts of witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.

Michael Lee Johnson, 45, was sentenced by United States District Judge Linda Parker in Detroit.  Johnson was convicted by a jury on November 1, 2024.

The evidence presented at trial established that the victim, Johnson’s girlfriend, broke up with him prior to returning home from work. Rather than leave the home as he was ordered to do by his parole agent, Johnson stayed at the residence and moments before the victim arrived home Johnson sent a Facebook message which said “I wanna do something evil.” When the victim arrived home, Johnson approached her from behind, grabbed her and repeatedly threw her into a wall.  Johnson then strangled and suffocated the victim to the point she had trouble breathing. Later, Johnson assaulted the victim again, this time in front of her children. Johnson also held the victim against her will in a bedroom the evening before the assaults. In an effort to conceal his crimes, Johnson witness tampered in various ways. These incidents occurred on the Isabella Reservation in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The victim is an Indian.

The case was investigated by the Saginaw Chippewa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roy Kranz and former Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Turkelson.