September 15, 2005

            LANSING – Attorney General Mike Cox announced today the arrest of two Oakland County men for stealing more than 20,000 gallons of gasoline from a Novi fuel company. The arrests are expected to be the first in an ongoing joint investigation with the Novi Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation that may involve hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen gasoline from metropolitan Detroit fuel companies.

            “At a time when Michigan’s citizens are struggling with the economy, it is especially important that we prosecute those who willingly break our laws, particularly during this time of national crisis,” said Cox.

            On Wednesday, Novi Police Department officers arrested William Shannon Cox, 39, at his Waterford home and Michael Omar Malone, 34, of Clarkston turned himself in to police in Novi. Both were arraigned Wednesday afternoon by Judge Dennis Powers in Novi’s 52-1 District Court on one count each of False Pretenses $20,000 or More and Conspiracy to Commit False Pretenses $20,000 or More, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. In addition, both may be fined $15,000 or three times the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. Judge Powers set both defendants’ bond at $250,000 cash/surety and they will be back in court September 21 at 9:15 a.m. for a preliminary examination.

            The charges arise out of a joint investigation conducted by the Novi Police Department and the FBI that was referred to the Attorney General’s Criminal Division for prosecution in August of 2005. Allegedly, William Cox, a truck driver, and Malone, a dispatcher, stole the personal identification number (PIN) of another commercial fuel driver employed by SJC Transport of Commerce Township. The defendants than allegedly used this PIN to steal more than 20,000 gallons of fuel from Delta Fuels, a fuel farm located in Novi, and the fuel was then sold to gas stations throughout metropolitan Detroit.

            A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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