United States of America vs. Michael S. Davenport and Cynthia L. Rawlinson

United States District Court for the Southern District Of Illinois

Criminal No. 17-CR-30199-DRH

RECENT EVENTS: On March 6, 2019, Davenport was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and a $1,500 fine. Restitution details have been deferred 30 days.

On December 12, 2017, Michael S. Davenport and Cynthia L. Rawlinson were named in a seven-count indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and mail fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced. If convicted, Davenport and Rawlinson are subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 30 years, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release on each count.

Michael S. Davenport was the owner of American Standard. He oversaw the operations of the company and controlled the revenues and profits of the company. The indictment alleges that Davenport was aware of the false and misleading statements by American Standard’s employees. These false and misleading statements were made with Davenport’s approval and at his direction.

Cynthia L. Rawlinson was a salesperson for American Standard. According to the indictment, she was later promoted to Sales Manager where she supervised American Standard salespeople in the Santa Barbara office as they used the false and misleading statements to make sales. The indictment further charges that when she assisted in the Customer Service Department, Rawlinson misled and lied to customers who called and inquired why the houses contained in the American Standard listing were not available to be purchased.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.