Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Using Art Appraisal to Conceal Fraud

NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Nevada resident, MICHAEL JON SCHOFIELD, age 76, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony.

SCHOFIELD admitted that he concealed wire fraud by emailing an art appraisal that misrepresented his honest assessment of the appraised art’s value.

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance scheduled sentencing for August 14, 2024. 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. 

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.