DOTSON INDICTED!

[ElfNinosMom]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

The reporter who wrote that story has contacted me, and is interested in speaking with some of the victims.

Are there any victims here interested in talking with him? If so, he can be contacted by clicking his name in the above article.

[Demosthenes]

Very cool.

Here's the indictment, ENM:

http://www.cheatingfrenzy.com/dotson1.pdf

[ElfNinosMom]

Very cool.

Here's the indictment, ENM:

http://www.cheatingfrenzy.com/dotson1.pdf

Most excellent!

By the way, I love this new forum.

[ElfNinosMom]

Robert Patrick of St. Louis Today has written an excellent, much more detailed article on Dotson. Many thanks to everyone who contacted him after my request to the board.

East St. Louis — Those in the know kept quiet about the "treasure" for years.

Waiting patiently for an incredible payback — up to $3 million for every $100 put up — investors in the "Dotson Project" used e-mail, word of mouth and cryptic references on Internet sites to talk up the plan and sometimes commiserate about repeated delays.

But there never was an 18-ton pot of gold at the end of their rainbow, according to court documents in U.S. District Courts in East St. Louis and Las Vegas that outline a long-running and lucrative scam.

Michael E. Dotson, 43, whose "project" claimed involvement in intrigue from Mexico to Japan to Switzerland, was really living in a rented room in Las Vegas, according to authorities. He is held in jail in Marion, Ill., awaiting trial in East St. Louis on a federal indictment Feb. 22 that accuses him of fraud and conspiracy on a national scale.

Court records say investors were told from the start that Dotson and his father had discovered 18 tons of gold, worth $208 million, in New Mexico. But they needed cash to retrieve it.

But then came alleged problems: Mexico claimed the gold. Then came a lawsuit, which Dotson won. The gold, or the sales proceeds, supposedly went to Japan, then Switzerland.

Dotson claimed to need $2,500 a day to pay expenses in Switzerland while fighting for the money, including four bodyguards because of threats on his life.

It seemed the investors were always just days, even hours, from cashing in, until mysterious forces — including governments and bankers — blocked their way.

Prosecutors and investigators say Dotson raked in more than $1.4 million in the past two years from investors — and hundreds of thousands a year before that.

You can read the entire article at http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

[Deep Knight]

I was reminded of this story, which Dotson may have heard and used to fuel his scam (it fuels many others). From the NYT, July 29, 1992.

Following 1937 Story of Buried Gold, Family Searches New Mexico's Sands
Published: July 29, 1992
The mystery boils down to a single question: Was Milton (Doc) Noss telling the truth, or just a tall tale?

The answer could be worth billions of dollars.

It is one of the most celebrated legends of buried treasure in the history of the American West, a thriller that includes a gunfight, nuclear weapons and the Watergate hearings.

It all started in 1937, when Mr. Noss, who practiced as a foot doctor though it was never clear if he had a medical license, returned from a hunting trip at New Mexico's Victorio Peak with startling news: he had glimpsed a hidden trove of riches, 16,000 gold bars.

Decades of Searching

Ever since then, driven by a desire to become fabulously wealthy, Mr. Noss himself, his descendants, investors and soldiers at White Sands Missile Range, which includes Victorio Peak, have gone in time after time searching for treasure, but have always come up empty. Now, cleared to go by an act of Congress, the best-equipped search ever is under way with $1 million in backing from the descendants and some investors. It could finally solve the mystery.

"We have always believed that the gold was still there," said Terry Delonas, the 43-year-old son of one of Mr. Noss's stepdaughters who is directing the search.

In a hunt that began last Thursday, Mr. Delonas's group has been given one year to search for the gold.

The Army, which runs the missile range, required the searchers to put up $150,000 to cover the cost of environmental assessments, as well as increased security forces.

The family believes that as much as 100 tons of gold, which would be worth $1.25 billion at today's closing price of $358.90 an ounce on the Commodity Exchange in New York, remains hidden in the cavern. They believe that sophisticated equipment like devices to take soundings showing whether there are underground caves will help this search succeed where other ventures failed.

The initial soundings appear to indicate a cavern precisely where Mr. Noss described. Under the direction of Mr. Delonas, the searchers have been analyzing their findings in a temporary office at Las Cruces, about 25 miles south of Victoria Peak. Searching with 15 people at a time to try to determine the size of the cave, the group in a few weeks plans to start drilling 6-inch holes several hundred feet deep into the areas where the soundings show the cave is.

Mr. Noss, a traveling doctor who was known for a hot temper and an appetite for liquor, claimed that the cache consisted of Spanish artifacts and Wells Fargo chests, along with the gold.

He supposedly told his wife: "We can make John D. Rockefeller look like a tramp."

According to the family, Mr. Noss took some gold bars when he found the cavern in 1937, and planned to return for the rest. But while trying to blast his way to the gold in 1939, he accidentally closed the hole.

A Partner and a Gunfight

For the next few years, Mr. Noss sought partners to help him find the gold. During World War II, he divorced his wife, Ova, and disappeared for several years.

Ova Noss took up the search, without success. Mr. Noss returned in the late 1940's with a new wife, and a business partner. He remained steadfast in his belief that the treasure remained, according to family members.

But in a dispute over the treasure in 1949, the business partner, Charlie Ryan, shot Mr. Noss to death. A jury ruled that Mr. Ryan had acted in self-defense.

Mr. Noss's ex-wife was barred from searching in the 1950's, when the Army extended the White Sands borders to include Victorio Peak. White Sands is the nation's largest military installation, about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. The world's first atomic bomb was detonated here on July 16, 1945.

Topic at Watergate Hearings

After some airmen from a nearby air force base claimed they found some gold at Victorio Peak, the Army and Secret Service began a secret search in 1961. Two local ranch workers stumbled upon the search and notified Mrs. Noss. She appealed to state officials, who forced the search to stop. The Army says the gold was never found.

In 1963, the Army allowed a group of searchers, including Mrs. Noss, to search for the gold. But the expedition soon went broke, and the Army declared that it would allow no more searches.

But the legend of the hidden gold was fueled again during the Watergate hearings in 1973. John Dean, the former lawyer for President Richard M. Nixon, mentioned that Attorney General John Mitchell had been asked to pull strings to allow some searchers to look for the gold.

Suddenly, a host of people surfaced to lay claims on the legendary gold treasure. The flamboyant lawyer F. Lee Bailey once said he represented 50 unnamed clients. Mr. Bailey claimed that given a helicopter and a half-hour, he could find 292 gold bars.

Mr. Bailey later dropped the matter. But in 1977, the Army agreed to allow some searchers with competing claims, including Mrs. Noss, to search the grounds. They found nothing.

Through the years, soldiers at White Sands have spent weekends looking for the gold. 'Like Any Other Client'

Parts of White Sands are sometimes leased by private corporations and foreign governments for experiments. American and foreign car makers have rented land at the installation to test new air bags.

"We're treating the gold searchers just like any other client," said Jim Eckles, a spokesman for the White Sands range.

Mr. Delonas said the legend of the buried treasure obsessed the family for generations. As a child, he said he remembered his grandmother, Ova Noss, talking about it ceaselessly.

He said he often grew angry that his grandmother was ignored or ridiculed for her efforts. In 1979, he sold a small mail-order business to devote full time to the search.

He has recruited friends and investors to form the Ova Noss Family Partnership, named for his late grandmother, that is financing the new search.

If nothing else, he said, an exhaustive search would lay to rest a question that has driven the family for more than 50 years.

[mikeymayham77]

Michael Dotson .....I just wanted to tell you all that you have no idea how much money he has taken over the last 20 years. I know this for a fact cause i am his nephew. Now mind you im in no way shape or form sorry for this man. He had a couple of cons i knew of before he left Georgia. He did some kind of 900 hundred scam for a bit and one about ostrich farms. If anyone is interested about his real life story which would blow your mind give me your e-mail .

[Lambkin]

Michael Dotson .....I just wanted to tell you all that you have no idea how much money he has taken over the last 20 years. I know this for a fact cause i am his nephew. Now mind you im in no way shape or form sorry for this man. He had a couple of cons i knew of before he left Georgia. He did some kind of 900 hundred scam for a bit and one about ostrich farms. If anyone is interested about his real life story which would blow your mind give me your e-mail .

Welcome to Quatloos! Why not post the details here? That way it can be of use to future readers (and ostriches).

[Demosthenes]

Just to bring this thread up to date, Dotson pled guilty in October of 2008, and was sentenced to significant prison time in January of 2009.

Defendant committed to the custody of US Bureau of Prisons for 240 months on each counts 1-10 to be served concurrently. Upon release defendant shall be on supervised release for 3 years. Defendant shall pay assessment of $1000 and restitution of 4,663,100.86

I'd post the more interesting documents but all the juicy bits have been sealed. Grrrr.



Date Filed # Docket Text
02/05/2008 Arrest of Michael Edward Dotson in Las Vegas, Nevada. (trb) (Entered: 04/08/2008)
02/22/2008 1 INDICTMENT as to Michael Edward Dotson (1) counts 1, 2-10, 11. (dmw) (Entered: 02/22/2008)
02/22/2008 3 Warrant Issued in case as to Michael Edward Dotson. (dmw) (Entered: 02/22/2008)
02/25/2008 4 MOTION to Detain by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 02/25/2008)
02/25/2008 Arrest of Michael Edward Dotson (rmb ) (Entered: 02/27/2008)
02/25/2008 6 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson: Arraignment as to Michael Edward Dotson (1) Count 1,2-10,11 held on 2/25/2008. Julie Morian present. Not guilty plea entered. Jury Trial set for 4/21/2008 09:00 AM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. (Court Reporter Barb Kniepmann and FTR.) (rmb ) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
02/25/2008 7 CJA 23 Financial Affidavit by Michael Edward Dotson (rmb ) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
02/25/2008 8 ORDER APPOINTING FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson on 2/25/08. (rmb ) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
02/25/2008 9 ORDER FOR PRETRIAL DISCOVERY AND INSPECTION as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson on 2/25/08. (rmb ) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
02/25/2008 10 ORDER finding as MOOT 4 Motion to Detain as to Michael Edward Dotson (1). Previous Order of Detention entered in Las Vegas, Nevada, to remain in full force and effect. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson on 2/25/08. (rmb ) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
02/28/2008 5 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Daniel G. Cronin appearing for Michael Edward Dotson (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 02/28/2008)
03/12/2008 11 MOTION TO DESIGNATE CASE A MULTIPLE VICTIM CASE UNDER THE JUSTICE FOR AL ACT OF 2004 by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 03/12/2008)
03/13/2008 12 NOTICE OF ERRORS AND/OR DEFICIENCIES re 11 Motion for Miscellaneous Relief filed by USA. See attached document for specifics (trb) (Entered: 03/13/2008)
03/18/2008 13 ORDER granting 11 Motion to designate case as a Multiple Victim case as to Michael Edward Dotson (1). Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 3/18/08. (mkc) (Entered: 03/18/2008)
03/31/2008 14 SEALED MOTION by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 03/31/2008)
04/02/2008 15 Sealed Order granting 14 SEALED MOTION filed by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 4/2/08. (mkc) (Entered: 04/02/2008)
04/04/2008 16 Rule 5(c)(3) Documents Received as to Michael Edward Dotson (trb) (Entered: 04/08/2008)
04/16/2008 17 MOTION to Continue Trial by Michael Edward Dotson. (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 04/16/2008)
04/18/2008 18 ORDER TO CONTINUE - Ends of Justice granting 17 MOTION to Continue Trial filed by Michael Edward Dotson. Jury Trial reset for 6/16/2008 at 9:00 AM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 4/18/08. (mkc) (Entered: 04/18/2008)
04/28/2008 Arrest of Michael Edward Dotson (rmb ) (Entered: 04/30/2008)
05/27/2008 19 Second MOTION to Continue Trial Setting by Michael Edward Dotson. (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 05/27/2008)
05/28/2008 20 RESPONSE to Motion by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson re 19 Second MOTION to Continue Trial Setting (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 05/28/2008)
05/28/2008 21 ORDER TO CONTINUE - Ends of Justice granting 19 Second MOTION to Continue Trial Setting filed by Michael Edward Dotson. Jury Trial set for 10/20/2008 at 9:00 AM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 5/28/08. (mkc) (Entered: 05/28/2008)
06/16/2008 22 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Phillip J. Kavanaugh, III appearing for Michael Edward Dotson as co-counsel (Kavanaugh, Phillip) (Entered: 06/16/2008)
06/23/2008 23 MOTION to Continue by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 06/23/2008)
06/24/2008 24 ORDER TO CONTINUE - Ends of Justice granting 23 MOTION to Continue filed by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. Jury Trial reset for 11/3/2008 at 9:00 AM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 6/24/08. (mkc) (Entered: 06/24/2008)
10/02/2008 25 NOTICE OF HEARING as to Michael Edward Dotson Change of Plea Hearing set for 10/10/2008 01:30 PM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. Proposed plea documents should be sent to drhpd@ilsd.uscourts.gov by 10/8/08.(rmb )THIS TEXT ENTRY IS AN ORDER OF THE COURT. NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE MAILED. (Entered: 10/02/2008)
10/10/2008 26 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge David R Herndon:Change of Plea Hearing as to Michael Edward Dotson held on 10/10/2008 Sentencing set for 1/16/2009 10:30 AM in East St. Louis Court House before Chief Judge David R Herndon. (Court Reporter Laura Blatz.) (trb) (Entered: 10/10/2008)
12/12/2008 27 INITIAL SEALED PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT as to Michael Edward Dotson. Objections are due within 14 days. (prksg) (Entered: 12/12/2008)
12/19/2008 28 SEALED OBJECTION TO PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 12/19/2008)
12/29/2008 29 SEALED OBJECTION TO PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT by Michael Edward Dotson (Attachments: # 1 Docket Sheet from Las Vegas Township, # 2 Biography of the Honorable William D. Jansen, # 3 Biography of the Honorable Douglas E. Smith)(Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 12/29/2008)
12/31/2008 30 SEALED RESPONSE by Michael Edward Dotson re 28 Objection to Presentence Investigation Report (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 12/31/2008)
01/13/2009 31 MOTION to Continue by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson. (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 01/13/2009)
01/14/2009 32 SENTENCING MEMORANDUM Sealed as to Michael Edward Dotson (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 01/14/2009)
01/15/2009 33 ORDER as to Michael Edward Dotson ( Sentencing set for 2/20/2009 02:30 PM in East St. Louis Courthouse before Chief Judge David R Herndon.), GRANTING 31 MOTION to Continue filed by USA. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 1-14-09. (anj) (Entered: 01/15/2009)
01/27/2009 34 SEALED RESPONSE by USA as to Michael Edward Dotson re 29 Objection to Presentence Investigation Report, (Attachments: # 1 Attachment)(Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 01/27/2009)
02/04/2009 35 Sealed Document (Cronin, Daniel) (Entered: 02/04/2009)
02/17/2009 36 SENTENCING MEMORANDUM SEALED as to Michael Edward Dotson (Hudson, Jennifer) (Entered: 02/17/2009)
02/18/2009 37 FIRST REVISION SEALED PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT as to Michael Edward Dotson (prwsd) (Entered: 02/18/2009)
02/20/2009 38 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge David R Herndon:Sentencing held on 2/20/2009 for Michael Edward Dotson (1), Count 1, 2-10,and 11. Defendant committed to the custody of US Bureau of Prisons for 240 months on each counts 1-10 to be served concurrently. Upon release defendant shall be on supervised release for 3 years. Defendant shall pay assessment of $1000 and restitution of 4,663,100.86. Count 11 Forfeiture order entered (Court Reporter Laura A. Blatz.) (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
02/20/2009 39 SEALED ADDENDUM TO PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT as to Michael Edward Dotson (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
02/20/2009 40 SECOND SEALED ADDENDUM TO PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT as to Michael Edward Dotson (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
02/20/2009 42 ORDER DIRECTING FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY as to Michael Edward Dotson.. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 2/20/09. (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
02/23/2009 43 JUDGMENT as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 2/23/09. (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
02/23/2009 44 SEALED STATEMENT OF REASONS as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 2/23/09. (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)
03/30/2009 45 ABSTRACT OF FORFEITURE JUDGMENT as to Michael Edward Dotson. (tkm ) (Entered: 03/30/2009)

[wserra]

Just to bring this thread up to date, Dotson pled guilty in October of 2008, and was sentenced to significant prison time in January of 2009.

I think I would agree that twenty years is "significant".

02/23/2009 44 SEALED STATEMENT OF REASONS as to Michael Edward Dotson. Signed by Chief Judge David R Herndon on 2/23/09. (trb) (Entered: 02/24/2009)

I don't quite get why this was sealed. A "statement of reasons" usually sets forth the Court's rationale for either a departure or a sentence at the top of the Guideline. The usual reason for sealing is a defendant's cooperation. Although we don't know for sure because all of the relevant submissions are sealed, it is somewhat difficult to believe that a 20-year sentence represents a downward departure. So does this sealed document contain the Court's reasons for sentencing high? Why would that be sealed?

Dr. C? jc2? Ima?

[mikeymayham77]

Mike lived with his mother till he was 29 or 28. I lived with them cause his sister which is my mom was in prison. i lived with him and my grandparents since i was three. Now im 32 and in the ARMY and in Iraq. OK enough about me. Mike quit school his 10th grade year after his was caught with weed at school. mike got a job at a rent to own store and was real good at sales. He got married and had a kid. When they broke it off shit went south in a hurry. MY GRANDFATHER PASSED IN OCT OF 1992.Mike started using drugs more. But somehow he got his mom to put up her savings to start a rent to own store with a friend. My grandma put up 32,000 on this crap. which this jackass never shows up too. So his friend does all the work. Now i dont know what happend but for some reason i sells his half, and she does not see any of the money. Now buy this time mike is doing crack and other stuff. He runs up thousand dollor phone bills and starts this 900 number scam. Where he can set you up with your own 900 number to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. He even got me to answer the phone and hell i was like 13 maybe 14. I start to see him with a lot of cash and just blowing it on clothes and drugs. He got money from his own mom again for this 900 number junk, but this time she had too refinace the house. He always says i can double or triple the money you give me too her. Then he starts the ost farm thing. Telling people how his birds are the finest in the world and the best eating. Sounds dumb but people bit on it and sent in money. Not sure how it worked sorry. So now i think this is around the time this dotson project stuff started as well. But he starts getting calls from lawers and other people. So he tells us that he is going to vegas for a week to collect the money from some gold stuff. HE leaves Ga when i was 17 for vegas and we dont hear from him for at least ten years. He called us about 3 times since hes been gone. His dad passed before all this went down. There is no way if would have fell for this shit. His mom lost the house and lived in a one bedroom apt till she feel and broke her hip. Now she is in a nursing home and dont know anyone of us. He stole her money but worst of all her baby boy broke her heart and stole her golden years. His oldest brother is doing very well in life. His sister is still a mess but she is mom and i love her. His daughter is the hardest working girl i know. She is about to get her masters and works full time. Like i said before im in the ARMY i have 4 more months left in Iraq. I have two Awsome girls 10 and 7. We wrote him off a long time ago. We dont say his name or think of him. It just sucks he only got 20 years. He messed up a lot of lives and crushed a lot of hard working peoples dreams. We would like a pic to see what he looks like now so if someone could post one we would be greatful. Thank you god bless

[sshawnn01]

Hello... is this Michaels' nephew?