Four Men Indicted in Federal Court with Trafficking in Motor Vehicles with Altered or Obliterated Vehicle Identification Numbers
James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted four individuals in two separate indictments with trafficking stolen vehicles with altered Vehicle Identification Numbers (“VINs”). The charges date back to 2008 and involve 29 motorcycles and one automobile.
The first indictment, charging Chad H. Reese, 32, of Waukesha, and Jason Rummel, 25, of Mequon, includes one count of conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The maximum possible penalty on this charge is imprisonment for not more than five years, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both, plus a mandatory $100 special assessment and not more than three years of supervised release. The indictment also includes 14 counts of possession of a motor vehicle with intent to sell knowing that the VIN has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2321(a). The maximum possible penalty on each of these counts is imprisonment for not more than ten years, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both, plus a mandatory $100 special assessment and not more than three years of supervised release.
The second indictment, charging Keith Grady, 39, of Milwaukee and Fabian Harris, 33, also of Milwaukee, includes 11 counts charging violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2321(a) (same penalties as above), and one count of removing, obliterating or tampering with a VIN, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §511(a)(1). The maximum possible penalty on this charge is imprisonment for not more than five years, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both, plus a mandatory $100 special assessment and not more than three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by detectives of the Waukesha and Greenfield Police Departments with some assistance by other agencies. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Kanter.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which time the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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