Malakoff Man Sentenced for Credit Card Scheme

TYLER – A 26-year-old Malakoff man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a massive credit card scheme. Christopher Scott Michael pleaded guilty on May 10 to access device fraud and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison Tuesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Michael was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $94,843.25.

According to information presented in court, on August 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence, during which law enforcement officers recovered counterfeit charge card making equipment, hundreds of counterfeit charge cards, and cash value cards. A forensic analysis of the equipment revealed that over 6,500 victim entries were fraudulently obtained by Michael. Further investigation revealed that Christopher Michael, his brother, Nathan Michael, Elizabeth Pickrell and Corey Davis conspired together to commit access device fraud in Henderson and Smith counties.

The four defendants obtained goods and services by using fraudulent credit card account numbers obtained through the Internet and at Chicken Express in Tyler, where Pickrell was employed at the time of the fraud. According to evidence, over 500 accounts were compromised in Tyler alone. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Nov. 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes. Nathan Michael, Pickrell and Davis have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.