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Mike Bacigalupo To Spend Time Behind Bars In Federal Prison
Tate Survance
Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:30:19 EDT
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A former Bay City theater director is headed to federal prison after admitting to a fraud scheme that financially crippled a local landmark.
Mike Bacigalupo, once in charge of the State Theatre in Bay City, was sentenced Friday to two years behind bars. A federal judge also ordered two years of supervised release after his prison term. Bacigalupo is scheduled to report to prison by midday on September 11.
The conviction stems from a wire fraud case tied to loans obtained for the historic theater. Investigators say the money was diverted away from its intended purpose and instead used for a separate construction project at Wenonah Park.
In court, the judge noted the seriousness of the offense but opted for a lighter sentence than prosecutors had sought. Factors included Bacigalupo's lack of a prior criminal record and numerous letters submitted on his behalf.
Along with prison time, he has been ordered to repay more than 347-thousand dollars and faces an additional financial penalty exceeding 750-thousand dollars.
Authorities say the scheme might have gone undetected if not for irregularities flagged during a state grant review. Bacigalupo admitted his role last fall and apologized in court, telling the judge he had let down his family, victims, and the community.
He retains the right to appeal.
