Hemet Couple Guilty of Falsely Arresting and Attempting to Deport Individual While Impersonating Law Enforcement Officers

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the entry today of felony guilty pleas by Gregory Raymond Denny, Jr. and his wife, Karen Denny, of Hemet, California. Both defendants pled guilty to being impersonators making an arrest and aiding and abetting (Count 3 of the indictment). The defendants entered their guilty pleas before Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr., subject to final acceptance of the plea by United States District Judge Larry A. Burns.

During this morning’s hearing, the Dennys admitted that they traveled together to the victim’s residence in Hemet, California, where Gregory Denny falsely announced that he was a law enforcement officer and was there to deport the victim. The Dennys further admitted handcuffing and searching the victim prior to transporting her to the Murietta Border Patrol Station, where Gregory Denny falsely identified himself as a U.S. Marshal and requested that U.S. Border Patrol agents take the victim into custody. After agents refused to take the victim into custody, the Dennys admitted that they transported her to various locations in Riverside and San Diego County before ultimately transporting her to the San Diego airport. Once at the airport, Gregory Denny identified himself as a U.S. Marshal, presented credentials and a badge, and informed Transportation Security Administration personnel that he was escorting a prisoner to a flight.

The defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in custody based on their pleas. Pursuant to Gregory Denny’s plea agreement, the government is free to recommend the three-year statutory maximum sentence. Pursuant to Karen Denny’s plea agreement, both parties will jointly recommend five years of probation with a mental health counseling condition. The government will dismiss the remaining charges at the time of sentencing.

Gregory and Karen Denny were ordered to appear for sentencing on January 24, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Larry Alan Burns.

DEFENDANTS Case Number: 10CR3043-LAB

Gregory Raymond Denny, Jr. Age: 38
Karen Denny Age: 52

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Title 18, United States Code, Section 913 and 2 - Impersonator Making Arrest or Search and Aiding and
Abetting

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States Marshals Service
Department of Homeland Security
Hemet Police Department