Malakoff Man Guilty in Credit Card Scheme

TYLER � A 26-year-old Malakoff man has pleaded guilty to federal charges in a massive credit card scheme that stretched through much of East Texas and beyond. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty to attempting to access device fraud Tuesday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on Aug. 18, 2010, a federal search warrant was executed at Michael’s residence. During the search, 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.

According to prosecutors, 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 allegedly 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.

Christopher Michael faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing and possible restitution in the amount of $100,000. A sentencing date has not been set. Pickrell pleaded guilty on Apr. 5 and is awaiting sentencing. Nathan Michael and Corey Davis are set for trial on June 7.