RAPID CITY, SD – A trio of Oklahoma residents are behind bars after a federal court handed down sentences for a brazen counterfeit currency scheme that flooded South Dakota and other states with fake bills. The operation, uncovered by the Rapid City Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, involved the meticulous conversion of legitimate $10 bills into convincing $100 counterfeits.
Michael Glenn Ogden, 38, received 41 months in federal prison on December 18, 2019, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Marcus Paul Franklin, 46, faced the same fate, sentenced on January 27, 2020, to 41 months imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release, also with the $100 assessment. The crew utilized printers, specialized paper, and chemicals to carry out their scheme.
The ringleader’s accomplice, Mary Allen Autry, 42, received a slightly lighter sentence – 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and the mandatory $100 assessment. Restitution owed to victims has been deferred for 90 days, suggesting the full extent of the financial damage is still being tallied. The three were initially indicted by a federal grand jury back in March 2018, bringing their illicit operation into the harsh light of federal scrutiny.
Investigators determined Ogden, Franklin, and Autry weren’t limiting their activity to South Dakota. They manufactured and passed thousands of dollars in counterfeit $100 bills across state lines, demonstrating a calculated effort to profit from deception. While the exact amount of fake currency circulated remains undisclosed, the sentences indicate the scale of the fraud was substantial enough to warrant significant prison time.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman successfully prosecuted the case, securing convictions against all three defendants. Following their sentencing, Ogden, Franklin, and Autry were immediately handed over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, marking the end of their freedom and the beginning of their federal sentences. The investigation highlights the ongoing threat of counterfeit currency and the Secret Service’s commitment to combating financial crimes.
This case serves as a stark warning: attempts to undermine the U.S. financial system will be met with swift and severe consequences. The collaborative effort between local law enforcement and federal agencies proved crucial in dismantling this operation and bringing these criminals to justice. The District of South Dakota continues to prioritize investigations into financial crimes, protecting both businesses and individuals from fraudulent activities.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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