Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Patrick D. Winter, a 54-year-old father of nine children from Bloomfield Hills, will spend three years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to charges of mail and wire fraud. Winter was sentenced on Tuesday, June 25 of attempting to inflate an insurance claim by more than $230,000, and defrauding a Nevada woman out of $645,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s website states that a commercial property the defendant owned at 21751 Nine Mile in Southfield was scorched in October of 2004, and that Winter filed a false insurance claim. The defendant allegedly tried to inflate the $1 million claim by more than $230,000 according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In another case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office claimed that Winter bilked a 60-year-old Nevada woman of her entire life savings between July 2008 and August 2010, promising an investment in real estate that would yield high returns. Winter was found guilty of soliciting more than $645,000 from the woman, according to a news article at Mlive.com. It is believed that the defendant showed the woman a picture of his large family in an effort to earn her trust. When Winter received the victim’s money, he spent it on personal expenses rather than investing it according to authorities.
Several agencies worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to close the case including the FBI, Southfield Fire Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Michigan federal crime attorneys know that these types of crimes are particularly complex, and that individuals convicted in federal court typically face harsher sentencing than at the state level. When an individual is accused of a federal offense such as mail or wire fraud, it is critical to obtain the support and guidance of an attorney with experience and skill handling these types of cases.
If you have been arrested for any criminal offense involving fraudulent activity or are under investigation, consult with a talented Michigan criminal defense lawyer at once.