Beaumont Man Guilty in Precious Metals Scam Resulting in over $1 Million Loss to Victims

BEAUMONT, Texas– A Beaumont man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Michael James White, 34, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on August 1, 2023.

According to information presented in court, White was the owner and operator of Gold Pro, LLC, a business in Vidor, Texas that bought and sold precious metals like gold and silver.  The company marketed their products as “financial security for future financial uncertainty.” Gold Pro operated by promising potential buyers from across the United States a certain number of precious metals, then obtaining payment from customers through the wire transfer of funds from the buyer’s bank account to Gold Pro’s bank account.  White communicated by email, telephone, or computer chat with potential buyers about the amount of precious metals the buyer would buy and agreed on a price for the precious metals and their delivery. Starting in 2021, in multiple instances after receiving payment, White did not deliver the precious metals to the buyer, delivered a product of lesser value, or delivered fake precious metals. During an almost three-year period beginning in 2020, White defrauded numerous victims throughout the United States, resulting in a loss of more than $1 million.

White faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.

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