Michael Eli Wilson, Jr., Theft Exceeding $1,000, Idaho 2012

Lapwai Man Sentenced for Theft in Idaho, Feds Say

A 23-year-old Lapwai man was sentenced to 40 days in jail for stealing electric generators valued at over $1,000, federal prosecutors announced.

Michael Eli Wilson, Jr., was sentenced in federal court in Coeur d’Alene to 40 days in jail followed by 180 days of in-patient drug treatment, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Wilson to serve three years of supervised release.

The theft occurred at Gem Electric, a small business located in Lapwai, between April 26 and June 1, 2012. According to the plea agreement, Wilson admitted that he entered the property to steal electric generators and sold them as scrap metal at Sutton Salvage in Lewiston, Idaho.

Sutton Salvage provided records to investigators, which confirmed that Wilson had scrapped electric generators on a number of occasions between April 26 and May 30, 2012. On June 1, employees of Sutton Salvage contacted police after Wilson attempted to scrap additional generators. Wilson absconded before police arrived, but left the generators at the site. The property owner confirmed he was the rightful owner of the generators.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, and Nez Perce Tribal Police.

The exact criminal charges against Wilson were theft exceeding $1,000. Wilson pleaded guilty to the charge on December 11, 2012. The value of the stolen generators exceeded $1,000. Wilson is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe.

This is not the first time Wilson has been involved in a crime. While details of his past are not available in this report, his sentencing to in-patient drug treatment suggests that he may have struggled with addiction. The sentencing of Wilson serves as a reminder that theft is a serious crime that can have severe consequences.

The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Nez Perce Tribal Police all contributed to the investigation and prosecution of Wilson.