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July 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Morgantown Resident Sentenced on Mail Fraud Charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A 50 year old Morgantown, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on July 9, 2009, in United States District Court in Clarksburg by Judge Irene M. Keeley.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that RANDALL SCOTT MICHAEL was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, to be served consecutive to his state sentence, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,250. MICHAEL entered a plea of guilty in August 2008 to one count of an Information charging him with mail fraud in January 2008. MICHAEL, who was an inmate at FCI Morgantown, devised a scheme to defraud and obtain money by falsely representing himself as a wealthy executive who was planning to lease coal rights through a trust. MICHAEL also fraudulently advised that he intended to use some of his money, as well as proceeds acquired under the trust, to purchase approximately 13 acres for $3.9 million. MICHAEL falsely told an individual that the grant required a refundable $50,000 bond and a bonding company would process the bond. On January 9, 2008, by United States Mail, MICHAEL had a check in the amount of $26,250 addressed to the false bonding company and said check was cashed and the proceeds distributed to members of his own family.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.