Pine Ridge Man Charged with Removing Parts from and Abandoning Vehicles

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
March 29, 2012

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly removing valuable parts from several vehicles that he had loans against and then abandoning the vehicles in various locations near Rapid City and Pine Ridge and in Wyoming, for conveying fraudulent information via wire and mail, and for making fraudulent statements to an FBI agent about his activities.

Keith Allison, age 35, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 20, 2012 for fraud by wire, fraud by mail, interstate transportation of converted property, and false statement. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 28, 2012 and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction of each count of fraud by wire and mail is 20 years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine; the maximum penalty upon conviction of each count of interstate transportation is 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine; and the maximum penalty upon conviction of each count of false statement is five years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Allison is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Allison was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.