Malakoff Man Guilty in Credit Card Scheme

TYLER � A 31-year-old Malakoff man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a massive credit card scheme. Nathan Michael pleaded guilty to access device fraud Thursday in Tyler before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to information presented in court, on August 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 authorities, further investigation revealed that Nathan Michael; his brother, Christopher 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 November 3, 2010, charging the four individuals with federal crimes.

Nathan 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. Christopher Michael pleaded guilty on May 10, 2011, and Pickrell pleaded guilty on April 5, 2011. They are both awaiting sentencing. Corey Davis is set for trial on June 7, 2011.