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Stolen Motorcycle Ring Leaders Convicted in London, KY.
A federal jury in London, KY., found two Ashland, Ky., men guilty for their roles in a motorcycle theft ring. Richard Meade, 65, and Mark Justice, 53, were convicted of a conspiracy to engage in money laundering by illegally transferring the ownership of stolen motorcycles and one count each of possession of motorcycles with altered vehicle identification (VIN) numbers.
Justice was also convicted of one count of illegally transferring ownership titles of stolen motorcycles while Meade was convicted on one count and acquitted on another count of the same charge. A third defendant, George Ferguson, 64, on trial for the conspiracy charge, was acquitted.
The jury reached the verdict Tuesday night after approximately 3 hours of deliberation following more than three weeks of trial. According to trial testimony, the two defendants sold approximately 30 motorcycles out of car lots in Ashland for between $13,000 and $15,000 apiece.
Justice and Meade participated in a conspiracy in which co-defendant Robert Jason Chapman of Cincinnati coordinated trips with others to motorcycle rallies in South Carolina, South Dakota and Florida. At these events, Chapman and others stole motorcycles and brought them to Kentucky to sell.
Chapman previously admitted that he and a co-defendant removed parts of the stolen motorcycles and replaced them with aftermarket parts bearing different vehicle identification numbers (VIN). He registered the stolen motorcycles with the new VIN numbers in Kentucky. Meade and Justice took some of the newly registered motorcycles and sold them.
The FBI and Kentucky State Police identified nearly 200 victims in this case, which include the original motorcycle owners and insurance companies. Six other defendants previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the case.
The defendants are scheduled for sentencing on July 24, 2013. They face up to 20 years in prison on the illegal transfer of ownership titles charge and the conspiracy charge. Possessing motorcycles with altered VIN numbers carries a maximum 10 year penalty.
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RELATED: Edgar Dekay Cops 10 Years for Kingsmen Biker Gang Crimes
Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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