FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 14, 2008
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on July 14, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:
NORMAN RUUD, age 66, appeared on charges of bank fraud and bankruptcy fraud. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, RUUD faces possible penalties of 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Archer is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.
The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and any person named as a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
