Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Coast Guard

A Michigan man pleaded guilty last month to a felony charge related to falsifying records connected to a course he administered to students seeking to become credentialed merchant mariners. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., who was joined by Capt. Richard Armstrong, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, and Special Agent in Charge Josh Packer, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Central Field Office, Detroit. 

Mel Stackpoole, 62, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Terrence G. Berg to one count of knowingly altering and falsifying records and documents with the intent to impede the proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. 

According to court records, Stackpoole was the owner and lead instructor of Great Lakes Charter Training, a marine training school that offered Coast Guard-approved training courses for the issuance of merchant mariner credentials (MMC). In August 2020, Stackpoole provided students enrolled his Master 100 Ton Captain’s Course with less than 50 hours of classroom instruction, rather than the required 80 hours. He also instructed the students to provide false information regarding their prior sea service, medical history and recreational drug use on their MMC applications to the Coast Guard. 

Further, Stackpoole improperly provided the students with the answers to certain examination questions, changed students’ incorrect test answers into correct answers and inflated the students’ test scores in order to reflect passing, rather than failing, grades. Stackpoole ultimately issued course completion certificates to the students, falsely signifying their successful completion of the course to the Coast Guard. 

“Mel Stackpoole has endangered the safety of everyone who uses the waterways of our Great Lakes by deliberately circumnavigating the Coast Guard’s training and certification protocols and facilitating the issuance of credentials to unskilled and unqualified mariners,” Gorgon said. 

“Integrity is the cornerstone of our maritime profession,” Armstrong said. “When that trust is broken, it jeopardizes individual careers and the safety and security of our waterways.  The U.S. Coast Guard stands firm in ensuring that those who choose to deceive or falsify their merchant mariner credential, or those who subvert the credentialing process, will be held accountable.” 

“As the leading maritime investigative agency, CGIS plays a vital role in investigating complex fraudulent schemes perpetrated against the U.S. Coast Guard and the public,” Packer said. “This plea represents our investigative commitment to the maritime community in ensuring CGIS pursues those that would seek to take advantage of programs designed to enhance maritime safety.” 

The sentencing hearing is set for December 18. Stackpoole faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. 

The Coast Guard and CGIS investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Wyse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert.