ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich., August 14, 2025 — Federal prosecutors today announced that Mel Stackpoole, 62, former owner and lead instructor of Great Lakes Charter Training, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of falsifying records intended for the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to court documents, Stackpoole admits that in August 2020, he delivered fewer than the required 80 hours of classroom instruction for the Master 100 Ton Captain’s Course—providing under 50 hours instead—yet falsely certified that students had completed the full program.
Investigators found that Stackpoole went further, instructing students to misrepresent their sea service, medical history, and drug use on merchant mariner credential (MMC) applications. He also supplied students with exam answers, altered incorrect responses to appear correct, inflated test scores, and issued fraudulent course completion certificates.
U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison condemned the conduct as “dangerous,” warning that it undermines maritime safety on the Great Lakes by enabling unqualified individuals to obtain credentials. Captain Richard Armstrong, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, emphasized that “integrity is the cornerstone of our maritime profession” and that violations like this threaten both safety and security on the water.
Josh Packer, Special Agent in Charge of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, said the agency will continue to pursue cases where certification processes are manipulated for personal gain.
Stackpoole is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Wyse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Lambert.
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