Great Lakes Wire

Frank Andrew Stevens, 62, from Colorado, has entered a guilty plea to a charge of Oil and Gas False Statement, which is an 18-month misdemeanor. This development comes as part of a legal case involving defrauding the State of Michigan. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the plea agreement, which requires Stevens to pay $15,000 in restitution to the state before receiving an 11-month delayed sentence. If Stevens pays the restitution in full and avoids further criminal justice system contact, he will face sentencing for one count of False Weights and Measures, a misdemeanor carrying a 90-day penalty.

The case involves Northeastern Energy Corporation, an oil and gas firm based in Bow Mar, Colorado. The investigation began when Stevens submitted false documentation to the Department of Attorney General in December 2016. The document claimed sales of only 1,312 barrels of oil totaling $43,951.88; however, actual sales were found to be 2,344 barrels totaling $77,852. This discrepancy resulted in nearly $34,000 underreported sales defrauding the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The plea deal follows Stevens' recent completion of a 15-month federal prison sentence for tax evasion linked to his operations in Michigan.

Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of truthful reporting: “Accurate reporting and honest compliance are paramount to supporting EGLE’s efforts in protecting our state’s environment and natural resources,” she stated. “My Department will continue to hold accountable those who try to defraud the people of Michigan.”

The criminal investigation was conducted by detectives from EGLE and the Environmental Investigation Section within the Department of Natural Resources. In November 2022, Stevens faced charges including Uttering and Publishing a Public Record and Forgery alongside Oil and Gas False Statement.

Judge Kristen Simmons presided over the plea hearing on January 3 at Lansing's 54A District Court. Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2025.