Artis

FRENCH CREEK – A New York man faces multiple felony charges in Upshur County after police allegedly tied him to a two-man cigarette smuggling scheme perpetrated in several counties and possibly in other states.

Michael Vincent Artis, 34, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with three counts of computer fraud; three counts of fraudulent use of access device; one count of fraudulent schemes; one count of grand larceny; one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the state; and one count of possession unauthorized access device, all felonies.

Artis was placed on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond out of Upshur County that has since been posted, however, due to Artis facing more charges in other counties, he is currently being held at the Central Regional Jail.

The criminal complaint, filed by Sgt. Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, states that on Feb. 17, Gordon was assigned a fraud investigation related to cigarette smuggling. Gordon writes that cigarette smuggling is often tied to funding criminal organizations such as criminal gangs “or even terrorist organizations.”

The matter was brought to Gordon’s attention on Dec. 20, 2025, after West Virginia State Troopers received calls reporting suspicious credit card activity related to the purchase of “large amounts” of cigarettes from a store in Mount Zion, Calhoun County, the complaint states. The initial investigation uncovered that two men arrived at the store in Mount Zion in a U-Haul van. The men purchased nearly $500 in cigarettes and fuel, entering credit card information manually while simultaneously receiving “what is believed to be” the credit card information over the phone.

West Virginia State Trooper Raines, who Gordon cites as the investigating officer, stated that video surveillance shows the driver of the suspected vehicle, who was later identified, the complaint states. The passenger was later identified as Artis. The identifications were made pursuant to a New Jersey and Connecticut investigation involving Artis and the other man.

The driver transported himself and Artis to the stores, allegedly participated in the fraud and reportedly acted as “a lookout and getaway driver” for Artis, the complaint states. Through the investigation, it was discovered that both men had stopped in Webster County and allegedly committed the same crimes. The store in Webster County received dispute notifications for those charges with a reason listed as “Fraudulent Transaction – No Card Holder Authorized.”

A similar incident was also discovered in Mason County, the complaint states. During that incident, the suspects dropped a receipt from Village Hardware gas station and convenience store located in French Creek, Upshur County. The receipt was dated Dec. 19, 2025, for a transaction of $440.25. Gordon spoke with the owner of Village Hardware, who advised that three transactions were made on that date for the amounts of $311.11, $440.54, $550.67. All three transactions were made on the same credit card used in the Webster County incident.

Gordon writes in the complaint that it should be noted that “there are unknown involved states, jurisdictions and locations which may reveal more fraudulent credit card transactions and defrauded merchandise.” According to state magistrate court records, Artis is facing similar charges in Webster and Calhoun counties, while facing an extradition charge in Doddridge County.

A preliminary hearing for Artis has been scheduled for April 27 in Upshur County Magistrate Court.