Trio Pled Not Guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture and Pass Counterfeit United States Currency

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a trio with ties to Oklahoma and North Carolina have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Conspiracy to Manufacture Counterfeit United States Currency and Passing of Counterfeit United States Currency.

Michael Glenn Ogden, age 37, Mary Ellen Autry, age 40, and Marcus Paul Franklin, age 41, were indicted on March 20, 2018.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 20, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 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 the trio using printers, paper, and chemicals to convert legitimate $10 U.S. currency bills into counterfeit $100 U.S. currency bills.  Using this equipment, they manufactured and passed thousands of dollars of counterfeit U.S. $100 bills in South Dakota and other states.

The charges are merely accusations and Ogden, Autry, and Franklin are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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

Ogden, Autry, and Franklin were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for May 29, 2018.