FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, October 15, 2007
MICHAEL ANTHONY BIGGS PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula on October 15, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, MICHAEL ANTHONY BIGGS, a 25-year-old resident of Bozeman and Townsend, pled guilty to bank fraud. Sentencing is set for February 7, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On October 25, 2005, a Bozeman Police Department detective responded to Wild Birds Unlimited on a complaint of a forged check being used to purchase merchandise. The detective discovered that a male and female had entered the store to purchase binoculars and an optical attachment with a check in the name of a male individual, referred to here as "J.G.". Later the same day, the couple returned to the store and returned the binoculars for cash. The male suspect returned to the store again to return the optical attachment. When questioned by store employees about the check he had used, the male suspect fled from the store.
The check was issued on a Norwest Bank account in the name of "J.G.". Personnel from Wild Birds Unlimited discovered the account had been closed. A copy of the October 25, 2005, check for $289 signed by "J.G." was endorsed by First Security Bank of Bozeman for deposit into the account of the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. Officers subsequently monitored pawn sales and discovered an individual attempting to sell the optical attachment. This individual explained that BIGGS had given it to him to pawn.
On November 1, 2005, officers responded to a residence in Bozeman where they were able to identify BIGGS and a female companion. A search of the residence disclosed numerous items of stolen mail including manipulated and altered business checks, a social security card, credit card statements, and various other identifying items. The female companion agreed to speak with officers and stated that she and Biggs had found "J.G.'s" checks at "V.G.'s" house. At that time "J.G." was deceased. The female companion informed the officer that BIGGS took the checks and she was able to identify his signature on some of the forged checks.
On November 2, 2005, officers showed a photo line-up to employees at Wild Birds Unlimited and they positively identified BIGGS as the person who wrote the fraudulent check drawn on the Norwest Bank account of "J.G.".
On May 9, 2007, BIGGS was contacted and admitted that he took a box of checks belonging to "J.G." from "V.G.'s" garage. He also admitted that he and the female companion passed many checks around Bozeman in the name of "J.G.", and specifically admitted to his involvement in passing the fraudulent Norwest Bank check at Wild Birds Unlimited in Bozeman.
BIGGS was responsible for drafting several thousand dollars worth of fraudulent checks to local Bozeman area businesses.
BIGGS faces possible penalties of 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Archer prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
# # # #
A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
