Waubay Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Thomas Iyarpeya, age 20, of Waubay, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on June 27, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with theft of government property. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.

In October of 2010, Iyarpeya stole a police car which belonged to the General Services Administration (GSA) by breaking out the window on the driver’s side and driving away. Mr. Iyarpeya abandoned the vehicle hours later in a different location. The investigation was conducted by Sisseton-Wahpeton Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Wright.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for September 26, 2011. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.