Michigan Man Indicted in Alleged Coast Guard Impersonation Case

Illustration: A generic Great Lakes maritime scene. It does not depict the defendant, an actual Coast Guard vessel, or the alleged conduct.

A Traverse City, Michigan, man has been indicted on federal charges alleging that he impersonated a Coast Guard officer, used Coast Guard-like insignia without authorization, and discharged sewage into Lake Michigan, according to an August 21 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.

Brent Alan Tompkins, 52, was charged in an indictment with false impersonation of a federal officer, unauthorized use of a Coast Guard insignia and discharge of a pollutant into a navigable waterway. The charges stem from allegations tied to White Shoal Light on Lake Michigan and an encounter with a distressed mariner in Emmet County.

An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. Tompkins is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

A two-year investigation, authorities say

Federal prosecutors said the indictment followed a two-year investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Environmental Investigations Section, working for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The investigation examined allegations that pollutants were discharged into Lake Michigan at White Shoal Light, a remote lighthouse in northern Lake Michigan.

Investigators also identified allegations that Tompkins operated a vessel bearing markings that resembled U.S. Coast Guard insignia and represented himself as a Coast Guard member to a mariner in distress in Emmet County, the Justice Department said. The federal release did not provide a date for the alleged encounter, describe the vessel in detail or say whether anyone was hurt.

“The public has a right to know when they are dealing with a properly trained public official—and when they are not—especially during a potentially dangerous situation on the water,” U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said in the release.

The federal counts at issue

The three alleged offenses cited by prosecutors cover distinct conduct. The false-impersonation count is brought under 18 U.S.C. § 912. The charge involving Coast Guard insignia cites 14 U.S.C. § 933. The alleged pollutant discharge is charged under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a) and 1319(c)(2)(A).

The Justice Department said that, if convicted, Tompkins faces up to three years in prison and a fine of at least $5,000 for each day a Clean Water Act violation occurred. Sentencing, however, would be determined by a federal judge after any conviction and could depend on the evidence, the applicable law and federal sentencing considerations.

Why the case combines public safety and environmental claims

The announcement centers on two separate public-interest issues: the alleged discharge of sewage into a Great Lake and alleged misrepresentation during a possible on-water emergency. In its statement, the Coast Guard Investigative Service said that impersonating Coast Guard personnel or misusing its markings can create safety and security risks, particularly where the public may rely on an apparent official during an emergency.

For now, the Justice Department’s release is the public record describing the allegations. It does not establish that the conduct occurred, and it does not announce a plea, a trial date or a court outcome. The Daily Play will update this article if court filings or a response from the defense provide new, verified information.

Related video

This official U.S. Coast Guard video provides general background on Coast Guard missions. It is included for context and is not footage of the allegations described above.

Sources and reporting

This report is based on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announcement, published August 21, 2026. General Coast Guard mission context is from the official U.S. Coast Guard video embedded above.