MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Michigan, Western), published as received.

 

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that a federal jury convicted Eric Scott May (39, Pellston, Michigan) of two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. May will be sentenced this winter.

The jury heard evidence that between February and March 2025, May engaged in sexual acts with a child between the ages of 12 and 15. A witness testified that May exploited the minor while the child was in May’s care. The jury’s decision was aided by proof that May had previously sexually exploited a different child, who was under 12 years of age at the time. May has a lengthy criminal history that includes more than ten prior felony convictions.

U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “The public expects federal law enforcement to do a lot of things, but none is more important than identifying, prosecuting and imprisoning child molesters like Eric May. I am proud of my trial team and the investigators for assembling the evidence that allowed the jury to reach the right result. We will tell the judge at the sentencing hearing all of the reasons why May should now face a long prison sentence.”

“Today’s conviction reflects the commitment of the FBI and our law‑enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue child predators and to stand with victims every step of the way,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “No child should ever endure this kind of abuse, and we will continue to use every resource available to bring offenders to justice and protect those who cannot protect themselves. I am grateful for the outstanding work of our FBI Marquette Resident Agency, in partnership with the Sault Tribe Law Enforcement and the Michigan State Police, whose persistence and coordination helped bring this case to a successful conclusion.”

The FBI, Sault Tribe Police Department, and Michigan State Police investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna L. Rutkowski and Alexis M. Sanford are prosecuting it.