Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Stolen Vehicles

PITTSBURGH—A Maryland resident pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to transport stolen motor vehicles across state lines, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Rodney D. Deminds, Jr., 23, of Belcamp, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Terrence F. McVerry.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on at least 14 occasions between July 2011 and April 2012, Deminds, along with Harvey Leemore, Collin D. Powell and Trea C. Powell, 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. After stealing these items, the thieves took the items back to Baltimore and sold them. The items were stolen from retail dealerships located in Gibsonia, Ebensburg, Gaines, and Altoona, Pennsylvania, and in Purcellville, Virginia. The value of the stolen items exceeded $200,000.

Judge McVerry scheduled sentencing for August 15, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the 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, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and detectives from Harford County, Maryland, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Deminds.