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Welcome to the official twitter page for News 6 Investigative Reporter Mike DeForest.

Nov 22, 2022, 8 tweets

Michael Nelson has spent 17+ of the last 25 years in prison for fraud. Now he’s out… and recently started a brand new business in Jacksonville offering “legal services”. (He is not a lawyer.) #News6 clickorlando.com/news/investiga… 1/8

Federal prosecutors have called Michael Nelson a “serial con man”, saying he defrauded folks across the country out of well over $1 million while posing as a lawyer, a banker, and a business consultant. 2/8

Shortly after his release from prison 5 years ago, I discovered Nelson was posting YouTube videos claiming to be a pastor and soliciting “tax deductible” donations. He was later sent back to prison for violating his probation by running another “legal services” company. 3/8

On the website for Nelson’s new company, he claims to have “over 30 years” of executive management and complex mediation experience despite being in prison for much of that time. 4/8

Nelson was soliciting customers on the referral service website Thumbtack, which indicated he had passed a “background check”. Considering his extensive criminal background, that was surprising. 5/8

After #News6 contacted @thumbtack with questions, the company removed Nelson’s account, saying it relied on a 3rd party background check provider. 6/8

While #News6 was investigating Nelson’s new company, advertisements for the business changed from “legal services” to “consultant”. 7/8

Michael Nelson did not respond to questions from #News6 about his company. He is not accused of committing any new crimes. clickorlando.com/news/investiga… 8/8

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