Michigan Man Sentenced for Making False Statements

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael T. Henson, 51, of Fowerville, Michigan, who was convicted of making false statements, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The judge also ordered the defendant pay restitution in the amount of $127,091.08 to the victims in this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that defendant was contracted to transport an interstate shipment of 20 tons of copper and brass via tractor trailer from Buffalo, New York, to Lonoke, Arkansas, and Midland, Texas. The shipment was valued at approximately $130,000. On June 22, 2010, Henson picked up the shipment in Buffalo, but it was never delivered to its intended recipients. On July 13, 2010, the defendant had a telephone conversation with a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Buffalo regarding the missing shipment. Henson stated that he dumped the load of copper he was hauling along a rural road near West Memphis, Arkansas, when in fact, he had not. Cellular telephone records for the defendant revealed that during the relevant time period, Henson did not travel to the state of Arkansas.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig.