United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Phoenix, Arizona, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of Fifteen or more Unauthorized Access Devices.
Lauren Montgomery, age 29, was indicted on March 22, 2016. Montgomery appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on October 28, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 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 charge relates to Montgomery possessing 15 or more unauthorized and counterfeit access devices, that is, names, dates of birth, and social security numbers issued to other persons on March 9, 2015, near Belle Fourche.
The charge is merely an accusation and Montgomery is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.
Montgomery was released on bond pending trial.