Ron Parsons, Counterfeit Currency and Firearms Possession, South Da…

SIOUX FALLS, SD – A trio of Sioux Falls residents are facing federal time after being convicted of running a counterfeit currency scheme and illegally possessing firearms. U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced the sentences handed down by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier, bringing a close to a case that exposed a blatant disregard for federal law and fueled the city’s drug trade.

The scheme unraveled after incidents in August and November of 2017, when Shalene Paige Ball, age 29, and Chester Lee Kempf, age 62, brazenly passed counterfeit $100 bills at businesses across Sioux Falls. Their operation wasn’t about big scores; it was a calculated effort to exchange fake money for legitimate currency, which was then used to feed a heroin habit. The mastermind behind the operation, Michael Scott Norton, a/k/a Michael Scott Carey, age 59, was responsible for the production of the counterfeit bills.

Ball received 7 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, restitution totaling $3,000, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. She’d already served her time prior to sentencing. Norton, the counterfeiter, received a relatively lenient 59 days in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, $1,500 in restitution, and the standard $100 assessment. But it was Kempf who caught the heaviest penalty: 42 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, $3,000 restitution, and the $100 assessment. Kempf’s situation was compounded by a separate incident.

On December 9, 2017, Ball made a frantic 911 call reporting that Kempf was unresponsive and struggling to breathe. First responders discovered not only a heroin overdose but also a stolen handgun in his possession. This revelation led to a separate indictment and conviction for Kempf, adding to his already substantial legal woes. The connection between the stolen firearm and the counterfeit operation remains unclear, but it painted a picture of a dangerous and reckless criminal enterprise.

Federal investigators from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) painstakingly pieced together the evidence, leading to a federal grand jury indictment on June 6, 2018. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper skillfully prosecuted the cases, ensuring that those responsible were held accountable. Kempf and Norton were immediately turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving their sentences.

This case serves as a stark reminder that counterfeiting and firearms offenses are serious federal crimes with significant consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor federal prosecutions in South Dakota and beyond, exposing the underbelly of criminal activity and holding those who prey on our communities accountable. The flow of counterfeit cash and illegal weapons will not be tolerated.