Department of Justice

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with five counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, also known as the Hobbs Act.

Michael Daker, age 58, was charged on July 23, 2020. Daker appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on August 3, 2020, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction of each count is 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Daker forcibly robbing convenience stores in Rapid City and Spearfish, and a motel and casino in Rapid City. The charges are merely an accusation and Daker is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Spearfish Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case.

Daker was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

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