District Attorney Mike Piecuch has announced that Kurt J. Keiper has been sentenced in Snyder County court to 12 ½ to 78 years in state prison and ordered to pay over $500,000.00 in restitution to his victims.
“I am very pleased with the sentence,” said DA Piecuch. “Given the scope of his criminal enterprises, his prior crimes and his flight from justice, he certainly earned every bit of it.”
The sentence imposed today by President Judge Michael H. Sholley encompassed 13 felony counts of theft, 2 misdemeanor counts of theft and 1 misdemeanor count of bad checks. President Judge Sholley also ordered Keiper to pay full restitution to 16 individual victims from across North America.
“I doubt that the victims should expect to have the restitution paid anytime soon, but hopefully they will get some consolation in knowing that he will be locked away for a long time,” said DA Piecuch. “If keeping him behind bars is the only thing that prevents him from victimizing others, then that is what we will do.”
In January 2012, Keiper pleaded guilty in eleven cases involving customers of his former business, Summit Transport Services, to buy and deliver various vehicles. Keiper had failed make those deliveries, and failed to return the customers’ money. By the time of his sentencing date in April 2012, the District Attorney’s Office had learned that Keiper had absconded and obtained a bench warrant for his arrest. He was apprehended near Durango, Colorado, in September 2012. Four more cases of a similar nature were filed after his capture and included in today’s sentencing.
“When his back was against the wall in January Keiper threw himself on the mercy of the court, but he has forfeited any expectation of mercy,” said DA Piecuch. “His victims have suffered serious economic and personal losses as a result of his crimes.”
DA Piecuch thanked the Pennsylvania State Police for its thorough investigation into Keiper’s crimes and its relentless search for Keiper after he fled the state. DA Piecuch also complimented the Sheriff’s Office in La Plata County, Colorado, for its role in apprehending Keiper.
“I am very pleased with the sentence,” said DA Piecuch. “Given the scope of his criminal enterprises, his prior crimes and his flight from justice, he certainly earned every bit of it.”
The sentence imposed today by President Judge Michael H. Sholley encompassed 13 felony counts of theft, 2 misdemeanor counts of theft and 1 misdemeanor count of bad checks. President Judge Sholley also ordered Keiper to pay full restitution to 16 individual victims from across North America.
“I doubt that the victims should expect to have the restitution paid anytime soon, but hopefully they will get some consolation in knowing that he will be locked away for a long time,” said DA Piecuch. “If keeping him behind bars is the only thing that prevents him from victimizing others, then that is what we will do.”
In January 2012, Keiper pleaded guilty in eleven cases involving customers of his former business, Summit Transport Services, to buy and deliver various vehicles. Keiper had failed make those deliveries, and failed to return the customers’ money. By the time of his sentencing date in April 2012, the District Attorney’s Office had learned that Keiper had absconded and obtained a bench warrant for his arrest. He was apprehended near Durango, Colorado, in September 2012. Four more cases of a similar nature were filed after his capture and included in today’s sentencing.
“When his back was against the wall in January Keiper threw himself on the mercy of the court, but he has forfeited any expectation of mercy,” said DA Piecuch. “His victims have suffered serious economic and personal losses as a result of his crimes.”
DA Piecuch thanked the Pennsylvania State Police for its thorough investigation into Keiper’s crimes and its relentless search for Keiper after he fled the state. DA Piecuch also complimented the Sheriff’s Office in La Plata County, Colorado, for its role in apprehending Keiper.
