A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a former Anna Maria Island rental agent to 21 months in prison for fraud.
Judge Steven D. Merryday recommended Michael P. Carleton, 53, to a minimum security prison and ordered 36 months probation and $136,098.96 in restitution for 75 victims.
Carleton pleaded guilty in October 2015 to one count of mail fraud as indicted by a grand jury for a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $200,000 from more than 70 individuals or families.
After a one-hour hearing March 31 in Tampa, Carleton was fingerprinted and processed. In about a month, he will be notified of a prison assignment, according to the U.S. Marshal’s office.
At the hearing, Carleton’s court-appointed public defender asked the judge for probation, a victim testified by telephone and Carleton made a statement.
Several letters from Carleton’s friends were put into the court record. They told the court he was a good person with major financial issues clouding his judgment.
Carleton, currently employed selling custom-built boats, told the court he would put his earnings toward repaying the victims, according to U.S. Attorney public affairs officer William Daniels.
The judgment incorporated a Feb. 11 $200,000 forfeiture order. No items have been reported as seized under the order.
“Generally if assets are seized, in a case like this, we’d typically apply it to the restitution to help those victims get recovery,” Daniels wrote in a March 31 email.
Special probation conditions require Carleton “to refrain” from working in the real estate industry after he is released from prison. He also is restricted from obtaining credit and making major purchases unless approved by his probation officer.
Carleton’s prison term was on the low end of a 21- to 27-month sentencing guideline.
His supervised release is on the high end of a 1-3 year sentencing range.
Though fines typically range $6,000-$60,000, the judge waived Carleton’s fine.
The scheme described in court documents occurred between April 2012 and July 2013. Most victims entered contracts over the Internet for rental properties with Carleton. They paid deposits but found their vacation rental was either occupied by other renters or canceled.
The victims were identified through police reports, Carleton’s bank records and by sending out surveys to potential victims, according to Daniels.
Carleton remains out of custody on a $200,000 signature bond, and subject to a release order. According to the order, he is prohibited from traveling outside of the Middle District of Florida except for business travel in south Florida.
Carleton is required to pay restitution to the clerk of the U.S. District Court for distribution to the victims.
Carleton will pay at least $25 quarterly while in prison. If he is employed while incarcerated, the judgment requires he pay 50 percent of his earnings. After his release, he is ordered to pay $500 per month.