Guilford County, NC Jail Officer Charged With 20 Felony Forgeries

Guilford County, NC – A former Guilford County detention officer faces 20 felony forgery charges after investigators allegedly discovered forged magistrate signatures on court documents connected to inmates with federal immigration detainers.

According to the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, the investigation began Friday morning after the county Magistrate's Office reported a potentially forged document submitted by detention officer Michael Diehl.

The document was an AOC-CR-662 form associated with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer for an inmate. The sheriff's office said the form allows a detention center to hold an inmate for up to 48 hours beyond the time the person would otherwise be eligible for release, giving ICE an opportunity to assume custody.

Investigators allege the inmate was not presented before a magistrate with the ICE detainer as required. Instead, authorities said a form containing an allegedly forged magistrate's signature was submitted.

A review of jail booking records then identified 19 additional forms involving 19 other inmates that allegedly contained forged magistrate signatures, according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities said ICE had issued detainers for the inmates involved in all 20 cases based on evidence they were allegedly in violation of federal immigration law.

The sheriff's office said Diehl's employment was terminated during the criminal investigation. The agency identified him as 40-year-old Michael Shaun Diehl Jr.

Diehl was arrested and charged with 20 counts of felony common law forgery. He received a $5,000 secured bond and has since been released from custody.

The Major Crimes Investigative Unit continues to investigate, and authorities said additional charges could be filed.

The charges are allegations, and Diehl is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.