A Lawrence County man has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for his role in a scheme to steal agricultural chemicals from his employer. Christopher Michelfelder, 56, of Moulton, Alabama, was sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in December 2024.
According to the plea agreement, Michelfelder was the facility manager of the local branch of an international agricultural company that sells chemicals to customers. Over the course of a decade, he executed a scheme in which he stole products from his employer.
Michelfelder sold the stolen products to a third-party broker under the false pretense that the products belonged to his personal farm business, Midway Farms. He shipped the products via FedEx to an address that the broker would provide to him.
The loss amount was over $6 million. The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case.
Michelfelder’s scheme went undetected for over a decade, with him shipping stolen products to the broker and receiving compensation in return. The exact nature of the compensation is unknown, but it is believed to be a significant portion of the stolen goods.
The sentencing of Michelfelder serves as a reminder of the importance of corporate accountability and the consequences of engaging in criminal activity. Companies and individuals who engage in such behavior will be held accountable and face severe consequences.
The case highlights the need for vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the private sector to prevent and detect such crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Academy Packing Co, Wire Fraud, Michigan 2002 · Alabama
- Dwayne Ellis Baptiste, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Alabama 2011 · Texas
- Quincetta Yvonne Cargill, Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud, Alabama 2023 · Alabama
- James Dean Kayvonfar, Wire and Mail Fraud Scheme, OK, 2023 · Oklahoma
- Turner, Tax Fraud, Alabama, 2023 · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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