United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

Mother and Son Charged in Federal Indictment
With Carjacking, Conspiracy, and Tampering With Victims

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that a federal grand jury in Dallas has returned a nine-count superseding indictment charging Kauffman, Texas, residents, Gary Dale Stanley, Jr. and his mother, Margaret Menough, with various charges related to two carjackings in Dallas late last year and the subsequent attempt to threaten the victims in those carjackings.

If convicted on all charges, Gary Dale Stanley, age 41, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 87 years imprisonment and a $2 million fine. Margaret Menough, age 58, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 45 years imprisonment and a $1.25 million fine.

On October 19, 2005, a federal grand jury indicted Stanley on two separate counts of carjacking, using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Stanley, a self-professed member of a violent white supremacist organization, was detained without bail on these federal charges, pled not guilty to the charges, and has been incarcerated at the Lew Sterritt detention facility awaiting trial which is set to begin next week before the Honorable Jorge A. Solis, United States District Judge.

Margaret Menough was arrested last week on charges outlined in a criminal complaint and has been released on bond, with electronic monitoring.

According to documents filed in the case, on the morning of September 21, 2005, Stanley embarked on a robbery spree during which he attempted to rob, and robbed, several victims, two at gunpoint. Stanley first attempted to rob his first victim at gunpoint shortly after she entered her vehicle at her residence. This victim, however, not speaking English very well, immediately made noise to draw attention to the situation, which caused Stanley to flee. Stanley then proceeded to the residence of his second victim and carjacked her at gunpoint in her driveway as she prepared to leave for work. This victim immediately called 911 and the police quickly intercepted the vehicle but lost it during the ensuing chase. Stanley damaged and abandoned this vehicle in Rowlett, leaving the loaded pistol he used to conduct the carjacking on the driver’s seat. After stealing and abandoning another motor vehicle, Stanley then carjacked another victim as she sat inside her vehicle prepared to leave for work. This victim also called 911 and the police intercepted the vehicle, but lost it in the ensuing chase. He abandoned this vehicle in a wooded lot, but was apprehended later riding a bicycle he had stolen.

Last month, Margaret Menough, using personal information supplied by her son, contacted the victims by telephone and informed them that if they did not drop the charges against Stanley, that they would suffer physical harm, even death, if they did not comply with their demands. Menough even informed one of the victims that they had killed before, that they knew everything about her and her family, and that they would find them. Recorded phone calls from the Lou Sterritt detention facility between Stanley and Menough reflect that the threats were serious, and were much more than pranks concocted to alarm or frighten the victims.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rowlett Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Lisa Johnson.

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