March 17, 2015

Convicted Fraudster Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Failing to Surrender for Service of Sentence

DALLAS—A Irving, Texas, man, who was sentenced to serve 70 months in federal prison in an investor fraud case, pleaded guilty this morning to the federal offense of failing to surrender to serve that sentence, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Michael David Carroll, 39, faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison, to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed on his prior conviction. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for June 29, 2015, before U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey. By law, any sentence Carroll receives for this new offense must be served consecutively to the 70 month sentence Carroll is already serving.

Carroll pleaded guilty in April 2013 to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role as a registered agent, director and incorporator of The Salad Bowl Franchise Corporation. Carroll ran a scheme to defraud potential investors, and to obtain money and property under false and fraudulent pretenses, by fraudulently inducing investors to purchase a “Salad Bowl” franchise from him.

On March 17, 2014, U.S. District David C. Godbey sentenced Carroll to 70 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution. Judge Godbey ordered Carroll to report to federal prison before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2014, to begin serving that sentence.

On April 18, 2014, the Court granted a defense request to delay Carroll’s report date and set a new report date of July 15, 2014. Again, on July 14, 2014, the Court granted another defense request to delay Carroll’s report date and set a new report date of no later than 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014. However, Carroll disobeyed Judge Godbey’s court order when he willfully failed to surrender for service of sentence. On September 17, 2014, Judge Godbey ordered that an arrest warrant be issued for Carroll.

That same day, a special agent with the FBI informed Carroll that he was a fugitive with an outstanding arrest warrant. The agent instructed Carroll to immediately surrender to the FBI office in Dallas. Rather than surrender as ordered, Carroll advised the FBI agent that he would drive to the designated prison facility and surrender the next morning. On September 18, 2014, Carroll finally surrendered to the designated federal prison facility.

The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Jarvis is prosecuting.