MADISON - A Brodhead man was sentenced Friday, March 8 in federal court to 15 months in prison and ordered to repay a government contractor the $196,958 he obtained through a fraudulent billing scheme.
Michael W. Booth, 42, who owned the Satellite Store, admitted to setting up 273 fictitious customer accounts that he then billed to Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes had a federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus program, to expand broadband internet service in rural areas.
As a subcontractor to Hughes, Booth was required to check a potential customer's address to ensure it was not currently served by broadband and obtain their credit card number, then install broadband internet service to the address.
Instead, between Nov. 9, 2009 and June 13, 2011, Booth sent in 273 fictitious orders for service either at invented addresses, to non-existent persons or falsely stated the equipment had been installed when it hadn't, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Sinnott said at Booth's November plea hearing.
On Friday, Booth admitted to the fraudulent billing, the proceeds of which, he said, were used to build up his company to where it eventually could be sustained through legitimate business.
"I'm hoping to be a good citizen, a good husband and a good father, but I'm a horrible business person," Booth told District Judge William Conley.
Booth said it's been his dream to own his own business, but this incident has taught him to give up that dream.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard asked Conley to impose a sentence within the 15- to 21-month advisory guideline range, saying Booth exploited the stimulus program to enrich himself without regard as to who it would hurt.
Booth's court-appointed attorney Erika Bierma told Conley that Booth reinvested the illegally obtained funds in his business and continued to live frugally despite the significant amount of money involved in the case.
This is Booth's first criminal conviction and Bierma asked for a probation-only sentence so Booth could continue to work to support his family and repay Hughes.
Conley noted that Booth had declared bankruptcy twice and this offense appeared to be a continuation of Booth's habit of not taking responsibility for his debts.
Rather than work harder to establish his satellite television business, Booth chose to "engage in fraud in a way that was calculated ... and greedy," Conley said.
Booth's sentence is to be followed by four years on supervised release during which time he is to make $200 minimum monthly payments toward his restitution.
Conley gave Booth until May 31 to report to prison to allow his youngest child to complete the school year with his father at home.
Michael W. Booth, 42, who owned the Satellite Store, admitted to setting up 273 fictitious customer accounts that he then billed to Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes had a federal grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus program, to expand broadband internet service in rural areas.
As a subcontractor to Hughes, Booth was required to check a potential customer's address to ensure it was not currently served by broadband and obtain their credit card number, then install broadband internet service to the address.
Instead, between Nov. 9, 2009 and June 13, 2011, Booth sent in 273 fictitious orders for service either at invented addresses, to non-existent persons or falsely stated the equipment had been installed when it hadn't, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Sinnott said at Booth's November plea hearing.
On Friday, Booth admitted to the fraudulent billing, the proceeds of which, he said, were used to build up his company to where it eventually could be sustained through legitimate business.
"I'm hoping to be a good citizen, a good husband and a good father, but I'm a horrible business person," Booth told District Judge William Conley.
Booth said it's been his dream to own his own business, but this incident has taught him to give up that dream.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Reinhard asked Conley to impose a sentence within the 15- to 21-month advisory guideline range, saying Booth exploited the stimulus program to enrich himself without regard as to who it would hurt.
Booth's court-appointed attorney Erika Bierma told Conley that Booth reinvested the illegally obtained funds in his business and continued to live frugally despite the significant amount of money involved in the case.
This is Booth's first criminal conviction and Bierma asked for a probation-only sentence so Booth could continue to work to support his family and repay Hughes.
Conley noted that Booth had declared bankruptcy twice and this offense appeared to be a continuation of Booth's habit of not taking responsibility for his debts.
Rather than work harder to establish his satellite television business, Booth chose to "engage in fraud in a way that was calculated ... and greedy," Conley said.
Booth's sentence is to be followed by four years on supervised release during which time he is to make $200 minimum monthly payments toward his restitution.
Conley gave Booth until May 31 to report to prison to allow his youngest child to complete the school year with his father at home.