Two Maryland Men Charged in Stolen Vehicle Scheme

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
September 21, 2012

PITTSBURGH—Two residents of Maryland have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The five-count superseding indictment, returned on September 18, 2012, named Harvey Leemore, 36, formerly of 1600 Evergreen Way, Essex, Maryland; and Rodney D. Deminds, Jr., 23, of 1217 Griffith Plaza, Belcamp, Maryland, as the sole defendants.

According to the superseding indictment, on at least eight occasions between September 2011 and March 2012, Leemore and at least one other individual traveled from Baltimore, Maryland, to various retail dealerships in Pennsylvania and Virginia for the purpose of stealing motorcycles and tractors from those retail dealerships. The superseding indictment charges Deminds with participating with Leemore in the thefts, and attempted thefts, on at least two occasions. The superseding indictment further alleges that, after stealing these items, the thieves took the items back to Baltimore and sold them. The superseding indictment charges that four motorcycles, 12 ATVs, and five tractor/mowers were stolen from retail dealerships located in Gibsonia, Ebensburg, Gaines, and Altoona, Pennsylvania; and in Purcellville, Virginia.

Leemore faces a maximum total sentence of 45 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000, or both. Deminds faces a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pennsylvania State Police, Western Pennsylvania Auto Theft Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the superseding indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.