Now, before I give you a recap regarding who Michael is and why we’re here, let’s read a letter that Michael’s wife decided to write to the judge. This is Michael—yes, from the very first season of 90 Day Fiancé with his wife, Aiza, who was from Russia.
For those who aren’t aware, Michael has been arrested. We’re currently waiting to find out how many years he’ll be convicted for since the case is still ongoing. However, Aiza decided to write this letter, which reads:
“Dear Judge,
I am writing to you regarding my husband, Michael, in light of his recent conviction. My name is Aiza, and I am his wife of 11 years. I have known him for over 12 years, and I can assure you that his conviction is not a reflection of his true character. Mike is a loving father, a caring husband, a loyal friend, and overall, a good, kind person.”
(Okay, but wouldn’t a truly good person avoid committing the crimes he’s accused of, especially against children? Just something to keep in mind, folks!)
“I met him in 2012 on a language-learning website where I was studying English. I’m originally from Russia but moved to the United States over 11 years ago to be with Mike. We have overcome a lot to be together and have built a beautiful family.”
(Yes, a family he clearly didn’t value enough to change his ways, but we’ll get to that soon enough…)
“We have a 5-year-old daughter named Olivia, who is very attached to Mike. They go on father-daughter dates, share hobbies like rock collecting, baking bread from scratch, and reading books. They have routines—Mike wakes her up in the morning and puts her to bed at night.”
(Unfortunately, not anymore, given what he’s done. Why would anyone want him near children?)
Aiza continues, stating how Michael’s absence will disrupt their daughter’s life. She mentions how he “would do anything for his daughter,” and that this separation “kills him.”
But if he truly would “do anything,” wouldn’t he have stopped his horrific actions? It’s tough to sympathize.
Then, Aiza goes on to say how Michael is close to his parents and sister, and that the conviction has left the family “heartbroken.”
“My family is being torn apart, and I know he has been tortured by his feelings of guilt and regret over this ‘irresponsible mistake’ he made.”
(Let’s remember this, folks—she claims he’s “tortured by guilt and regret.”)
Finally, she pleads for leniency in his sentencing. But why? She knows the prosecutors want 20 years, and that by then, their daughter will be 25 and likely won’t want anything to do with him once she knows the full story. Yet Aiza persists, hoping to keep their family connected.
Here’s the troubling part: The court has confirmed that Michael was found guilty of two charges involving children. Prosecutors want to lock him away for two decades, as he also failed to accept responsibility. Admitting to a crime isn’t the same as acknowledging its harm.
Additionally, law enforcement became aware of Michael’s behavior through an undercover agent, and found thousands of images on his computer. Michael even admitted to sharing such content for over 20 years but still maintains that he “deleted it afterward.” Does he really regret it?
(Side note: Some offenders receive new identities upon release. Drug dealers often serve lengthy sentences, and they don’t even receive such protections. The system can feel unfair.)
It’s essential for employers to know who they’re hiring, especially when it comes to offenses involving children.
I can’t understand why Aiza would still write this letter. Michael failed as a husband, a father, and a friend. His actions damaged their lives, and yet she wants him to return home to be around their daughter. This loyalty is hard to comprehend, especially with such grave charges.
Would you support your spouse under these circumstances?
