Three Individuals Indicted For Counterfeiting

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that two women and a man, all from western South Dakota, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for various charges including Counterfeiting and Forging United States Currency.

Gertrude Bearing, age 39, of Rapid City; Craig Janis, age 29, of Kyle; and Tina Brewer, age 37, of Sturgis, were indicted on March 18, 2014.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 20 and 24, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Bearing, Janis, and Brewer, counterfeiting and/or passing $20 and $100 Federal Reserve Notes in Rapid City on March 1-2, 2014.

The charges are merely accusations and all three are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Rapid City Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.

Bearing, Janis, and Brewer were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for May 27, 2014.