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A former Rehoboth Beach lifeguard and lobbyist who pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy has filed suit against his former wife and her current husband, claiming, among other things that the couple conspired against him.
Michael “Sean” Scanlon is asking for $500,000 in damages, claiming his former wife, who is the mother of his son, and her husband used child-support money to buy a vacation home, timeshares and concert tickets, and that most of the money never went to Scanlon’s son.
On Feb. 27, Scanlon’s attorney filed an amendment to the civil suit against his former wife, Carrie Ann Messina, originally filed in September 2006, to include her husband and charges that the couple conspired against him.
Scanlon, a former aide to Republican majority leader Tom DeLay and later a high-powered lobbyist, was accused of conspiring with lobbyist Jack Abramoff to defraud American Indian tribes and bribe public officials.
He pleaded guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors. He faces up to five years in prison.
As part of the scam, Scanlon set up several businesses, including the American International Center in Rehoboth Beach, billed as an international think tank, which he staffed with former lifeguard buddies.
But he is not in prison yet, and Scanlon still owns several properties in the Rehoboth area.
“Mr. Scanlon’s case remains pending in federal court in Washington,” said his attorney in the federal case, Stephen Braga. “He is still cooperating with the Department of Justice in its ongoing investigation. He has not yet been sentenced and will not be until after his cooperation is completed.
“No amount of restitution, and no term of imprisonment, can be finalized until he is sentenced,” said Braga. However, in the plea agreement, Scanlon offered a $19 million restitution payment to his former Indian tribe clients.
Court documents filed in 2006, show Carrie Messina of California and Scanlon entered a confidentiality agreement on Sept. 16, 2003, that prohibited her from discussing Scanlon’s finances with any third party.
The agreement, filed in Montgomery County, Md., also set forth child-support payments for their 8-year-old son, John Caulfield-Scanlon.
The original agreement stated if Messina violated confidentiality terms, she would pay Scanlon $100,000 and other financial transactions would be revoked and restored to Scanlon.
Scanlon’s suit claims Messina divulged information about his finances and arranged meetings with people identified in the confidential agreement who were not to be contacted.
He also claims she used substantial funds for her own benefit and not for their son.
In the amended complaint, Scanlon claims Messina told him she set up a bank account specifically for their son and asked him to wire money to it.
However, the account was in her name and her husband’s name, and Scanlon claims they used the money to purchase timeshares in Florida and Mexico, tickets to events such as concerts and a ski home in California.
Scanlon also claims the couple earns unjustified compensation by renting out the home. The suit claims the couple also made more than $44,000 in cash withdrawals.
Scanlon has asked that an educational trust that was established for his son be liquidated and the money be returned to him.
Scanlon’s attorney for the civil suit, Joseph Quirk of Rockville, Md., had no comment on the case and declined to discuss any details. Messina’s attorney, Mary Pence of Washington, D.C., did not return phone calls.
Scanlon still owns several properties in the Rehoboth Beach area and in Georgetown in his own name, with family members and in a limited liability company.
According to the documents, there is no indication Scanlon is seeking custody of his son.
His wife, Brandy Scanlon, owns a home in Henlopen Acres, and Michael Scanlon is not on the deed.
Contact Molly Albertson at malbertson@capegazette.com.
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