Nevada Man Charged for Using Art Appraisal to Conceal Fraud

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Nevada resident, MICHAEL JON SCHOFIELD, age 76, has been charged on October 30, 2023 with misprision of a felony.

The bill of information alleges that SCHOFIELD concealed wire fraud, by emailing an art appraisal that misrepresented SCHOFIELD’s honest assessment of the appraised art’s value.

Misprision is punishable by up to three years imprisonment followed by up to one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  

The United States Attorney’s Office reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.