Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that a Bay County jury deliberated just under 30 minutes on January 3, 2017, before finding 42 year old Michael Joseph Bransford Guilty as Charged of Grand Theft Over $20,000.
Assistant State Attorney Brittany Forester called three witnesses to testify that Bransford withdrew nearly $21,000 from a Bay County Regions Bank before bank officials discovered the check was fraudulent. Although originally claiming that the check was an IRA Rollover from a previous employer, Bransford later told bank personnel that he had been scammed by Nigerians. At trial, the Defendant told a third version and testified he had been “catfished” by a girlfriend. The case was investigated by Investigator Paul Vecker with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Circuit Judge Hentz McClellan scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 19, 2017. The Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
If you have any questions, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford at (850)819-6985.