Michail McKen Convicted of Operating Multistate Sex Trafficking Ring from Long Island

A federal jury in Central Islip has delivered a conviction against Michail McKen for his role in operating a multistate sex trafficking ring. As reported by the

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York

, McKen was found guilty on two counts of sex trafficking by force and two counts of interstate prostitution following a six-day trial presided over by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. McKen, who recruited women through social media, promised them a better life but instead enforced a regime of violence and manipulation.

United States Attorney Breon Peace commented on the verdict and stated, “He falsely promised his victims a better life, but instead controlled their lives with threats of violence and manipulation to enrich himself.” In information obtained by the

U.S. Attorney’s Office

, McKen’s tactics of intimidation included gun threats, chokings, beatings, and, as mere pawns in his operation, rationing opioids to victims suffering from addiction.

The

Department of Justice’s press release

details the scope of McKen’s network, spanning Suffolk and Nassau Counties, New York, Virginia, Arizona, Massachusetts, and beyond. McKen’s victims were forced to engage in commercial sex acts in various locations, with some even receiving “Cavalli” tattoos – his street name derived from a fashion designer’s moniker – as marks of possession and control.

While facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to life imprisonment, McKen’s conviction is seen as a step toward justice for his victims. James E. Dennehy, FBI Assistant Director in Charge, described McKen’s enterprise, “For three years, Michail McKen established a national trafficking route to ensnare and force countless women into sexual slavery.” Dennehy highlighted the FBI’s commitment to addressing these issues in a statement from the FBI, affirming their role in dismantling operations like McKen’s, according to the

U.S. Attorney’s Office

.

Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Samantha Alessi led the prosecution, with contributions from Paralegal Specialist Adam Bernard, Legal Assistant Hannah Valoy, and Victim Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin. The collaborative effort included the Arizona Desert Hawk Violent Crime Task Force, the FBI’s Baltimore and Richmond Field Offices, and the Henrico County, Virginia, Police Division, all of whom received thanks from the U.S. Attorney for their aid in the case.

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