Marion County man convicted of mail fraud

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Fairmont, West Virginia man pled guilty today to mail fraud, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.

Michael Sine, age 34, pled guilty to one count of “Mail Fraud.” Sine admitted to participating in a staged vehicle accident, faking injuries from said accident, and filing false insurance claims resulting in a $41,000 settlement. The crime happened between May 2013 and October 2013 in Marion County.

Sine faces up to twenty years incarceration and a $250,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia Insurance Commission Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.