Rapid City Man Guilty of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Benjamin Godfrey Chipps, Jr., age 32, of Rapid City, appeared before US District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on June 7, 2011, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.

Between December 2010 and May 2011, Chipps, who is required to register as a sex offender, knowingly failed to do so. The investigation was conducted by the US Marshal's Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Robert A. Mandel.

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