July 24, 2014

Rochester Hills Man Sentenced to Federal Prison

Marcus Little, 51, of Rochester Hills, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. Little who was convicted in September 2013 of Endeavoring to Influence a Juror and Making a False Statement to a Federal Agent, was sentenced by United States District Judge Patrick Duggan.

The evidence presented during the trial showed that Little was present at a fraud trial in May 2011 as an observer. The trial which was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan involved three defendants who were charged with defrauding financial institutions by obtaining fraudulent mortgages on houses in Birmingham. The alleged fraud amount was more than $7 million. Little was able to learn where one of the jurors in that trial resided. During a long break in the trial, he drove to the home of the juror and tried to influence the juror on behalf of the defendants on trial. The juror immediately reported this to the police and the court.

During the course of the jury tampering investigation, the agents questioned Little. In an attempt to divert attention from himself as a suspect, Little lied to the agents. Because of the lies and other information gathered by the agents, they were able to determine that he was the person who attempted to influence the juror. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service.