Background

(Here’s the first thing you need to know about this case. Michael and his family are VICTIMS of horrendous acts by the government. In fact, his father DIED because of it. No one involved in the system, whether it’s a person or their family, ever truly wins. Everyone gets dragged into what can only be described as a deeply flawed and unjust system. The idea of being innocent until proven guilty? It doesn’t exist here.  Every person accused by the government is GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT. Lastly, and very importantly, don’t talk to federal officers. Seriously, don’t. Especially if they give off that certain vibe—we all know it when we see it. If the guy looks like a toolbag, is overweight, acts like he’s God’s gift to law enforcement, and you can just tell he was that kid no one wanted during recess? Yeah, keep your mouth shut. That’s a surefire sign to say nothing. Consider it a public service announcement.

And if you didn’t know, well, here’s another kicker for you. Federal officers? They don’t even have to read you your rights. Think about that. To make it worse, there are those “officers” who aren’t even real officers in the way we think of them. Like the ones who investigate stuff like social security fraud or other minor, nonviolent crimes. Most of those people are a joke with a badge. If you run into one of them, don’t engage. Just trust me on this!!!

Now, before I get ahead of myself, not everyone who wears a badge fits this description. My dad? He was an officer and a federal marshal (mainly court security and transporting prisoners, but still). I’ve met a lot of officers I genuinely respect. But honestly, just as many have no business carrying a badge or deciding someone’s FATE, AKA sending an innocent person to prison for a crime they did not commit. It’s mind-blowing to see people ill-equipped for leadership somehow ending up in positions of power.

And here’s the REALEST AND BIGGEST problem with all this. The United States government has MORE resources than anyone else in the entire world. They can do whatever they want, in and out of court. Evidence? They can hide it, make it disappear, twist it however they need. They can take the most innocent person and make them look guilty. Ever heard of “star witnesses”? These government-paid so-called “experts” will literally say whatever they’re fed. It’s all scripted, right down to the answers they give.

I’ve seen it over and over in the cases I’ve looked into. These people, whoever they are, show up pretending to be authorities in fields they clearly know nothing about. They’re planted in the case only to strengthen the government’s side. And most of the time, they’re FULL OF IT!!! That’s the truth. Honestly, for these prosecutors and agents, it’s not even about right or wrong. It’s about WINNING. I definitely understand that aspect, being a competitor myself, but the system rewards wins, not justice, and that’s the most dangerous part.

There’s no question we need checks and balances. Without them, how do you stop a system this powerful from running unchecked? That’s the question I keep coming back to. How can this foundational problem be changed to help everyday citizens from being trapped inside awful prisons?

What happens when a system meant to protect and serve the interests of justice turns its immense power into a weapon directed at the very individuals it should safeguard? For my husband, Michael, this question is no longer theoretical. It has been a lived NIGHTMARE. Our story is one of systemic betrayal, manipulation, and persistent injustice. It begins with a tragic family dynamic and spirals into a federal case whose consequences continue to disrupt our lives to this very day...)

The Accusation That Changed Everything

Michael’s ordeal began with the care of his father, Stewart, a man struggling with alcoholism and poor financial decision-making. Michael stepped in to support his father, using a combination of his father’s Social Security benefits and thousands of dollars of his own money to ensure proper care. His actions were a mix of duty, compassion, and responsibility. Note: No one in Michael's family would take his dad in because of his alcoholism. Michael prayed to God, and God told him, "Honor your Mother and Father." So, Michael took him in after MANY family members told him not to.

Tragically, the system that should have worked to help them both turned against Michael in unimaginable ways. Despite evidence that he spent the money responsibly and in his father’s best interests, Michael was accused of misappropriating $42,000 of Stewart’s Social Security funds. The irony? Even the government’s own witnesses admitted that Michael provided exceptional care to his father.

These allegations eventually ballooned into a federal case that consumed over nine years of resources and taxpayer money. For context, federal prosecutions of Social Security fraud typically target much larger sums of money, often exceeding $500,000. Cases involving less than $40,000 are rarely pursued at this level. Yet, Michael found himself facing not ONE but TWO federal trials, raising troubling questions about the government’s pursuit of justice.

A Courtroom Battle of Distorted Truths

The first trial ended in a hung jury, a testament to the reasonable doubts surrounding the government’s case. However, the prosecution was relentless. A second trial followed, and this time Michael was convicted in what can only be described as a betrayal of justice.

Key evidence, including records showing that over $11,500 of the alleged amount was lawfully spent, was deliberately withheld by the prosecution. This not only violated the Brady v. Maryland ruling, which requires exculpatory evidence to be disclosed, but also created a misleading narrative that swayed the jury.

Even more egregious were the tactics used in court. Government witnesses presented inflated financial data that falsely bolstered their case. One key witness lied over 11 times on the stand. Despite these proven misrepresentations, this false testimony became the foundation for Michael’s conviction.

The individuals behind this miscarriage of justice wielded unchecked power. Federal prosecutor Courtney Pratt (she was promoted after this case, btw) and her sidekicks Bradley Cooper and Judge Roseann Ketchmark ignored key evidence and upheld a narrative unsupported by facts. The worst of the worst of the liars and fabricators was Agent Don Krahn, the lead investigator on the case, who faced no consequences for his fabrications and lies on the stand. In fact, when he spoke with Stewart Sylvara while he was still alive, Stewart told him that his son was taking care of him and that the lady who had reported the entire case was a fraud and a liar. Collectively, they failed the most basic obligation of their roles—to seek the truth.

A Family Shattered

The weight of these events didn’t just fall on Michael; it reverberated through our entire family. While Michael fought for his freedom in a courtroom stacked against him, we faced the emotional, financial, and social fallout. Our children, who once viewed the legal system as a pillar of fairness, watched it fail the head of our house.

Our fight for justice was not confined to the courtroom. Letters were written to the judge, pleading for a fair evaluation of the evidence. Appeals were filed, outlining the glaring errors in the trial. Yet, the system seemed impervious to logic or compassion. The government’s pursuit of a conviction overshadowed any genuine interest in the truth.

The cost of this injustice goes beyond our family. Millions of taxpayer dollars were squandered on a case involving a sum that should have been resolved through restitution or community service if he or someone else actually did do a crime like this. Meanwhile, other crimes of far greater magnitude were left unexamined. Isn't there a rule or law that states that if you lie in a courtroom, you will be punished? Oh, right, it's called perjury. What my husband was charged with in the second trial. How strange the justice system is to go to great lengths to lie so many times during both trials to charge my husband, but Michael is the person charged with perjury. Do you see the irony in this whole situation? Why aren't Don Khran, their star financial witness, and the lady who started the entire thing, whom Stewart called a fraud, being punished for perjury? If this is how the justice system allocates its resources, who’s holding it accountable? Again, where are the checks and balances?

A Legacy of Loss

The fallout from Michael’s conviction was only made worse by another devastating tragedy: his father, Stewart, drinking himself to death. Despite multiple doctors warning Social Security employees that Stewart was incapable of managing his own finances, the system deemed him fit to control his benefits. What followed was as predictable as it was heartbreaking.

Shortly after regaining control of his Social Security funds, Stewart succumbed to his long, grueling battle with alcoholism. He drank himself to death in a matter of days. Medical professionals had cautioned that direct access to money would trigger self-destructive behavior, yet their warnings went ignored. The system’s negligence led to a needless and painful loss, deepening the wounds already inflicted on our family.

Today, as Michael remains behind bars, Stewart’s death serves as a haunting reminder of systemic failure—not just in failing to protect the vulnerable but in actively paving the way for their suffering. It was a preventable tragedy and one that underscores the injustices no family should have to endure.

The Bigger Questions

Michael’s story is not just an isolated case of injustice. It is emblematic of a system riddled with incompetence, inefficiency, and unchecked power. It raises critical questions:

• Why are low-dollar fraud cases pursued at immense public expense while larger crimes go unpunished?
• Who oversees the actions of federal prosecutors and judges who suppress evidence or act in bad faith?
• Why is there no accountability for investigations that rely on manipulation and falsehoods?

The answers to these questions affect more than just our family. They reveal systemic flaws that harm taxpayers, betray public trust, and leave innocent lives in ruins.

Moving Forward

This is just the beginning of our story. It is a story that demands to be told—not just for Michael but for every family impacted by similar injustices. With every step forward, we remain committed to shining a light on the truth and holding those responsible accountable.

This blog is more than a recounting of events; it is a call to action. Together, we must demand transparency, accountability, and reform within the legal and prison systems. Only then can we prevent others from suffering the same fate.

Stay tuned for the next installment, where we’ll detail Michael’s experience within the prison system, from medical neglect to systemic corruption, and the resilience it took to survive. This is The Genesis of Injustice, but it won’t be the end.