A Pennsylvania man caught trying to leave Black Hills Harley-Davidson on a stolen motorcycle during the 2003 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has now pleaded guilty in federal court to operating a chop shop.

David Gebert, 60, and his wife, Linda Gebert, 59, of West Mifflin, Pa., both pleaded guilty this week in Pittsburgh to charges of operating a chop shop and money laundering. They also agreed to pay $350,000 in restitution.

Federal court documents show the couple admitted to running Dee Gee Motors, also known as Cash Auto, as a chop shop for stolen vehicles.

According to an Associated Press story, between 1991 and 2003, the Geberts stole at least 18 Harley-Davidson motorcycles at rallies in Sturgis, Florida and Georgia. The stolen bikes were then taken to two salvage shops owned by the Geberts.

The couple bought frames purchased from manufacturers and businesses that sold frames from wrecked motorcycles, then used parts from the stolen bikes to build new motorcycles. The reconstructed cycles had legitimate vehicle identification numbers and were sold to people who believed they were legitimate, according to the AP story.

In 2004, David "Cash" Gebert pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft in Pennington County and one count of grand theft in Meade County in connection with the rally bike thefts. After Gebert was caught trying to leave the Harley-Davidson dealership on a stolen motorcycle, police searched the Geberts' campsite near Sturgis and found motorcycles and parts that were reported stolen during the Daytona bike rally.

In exchange for Gebert's guilty pleas, charges against his wife and son, Justin Gebert, were dropped, as were additional charges against David Gebert. Gebert was sentenced in both the 4th Circuit and the 7th Circuit to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

At that time, the Butler (Pa.) Eagle newspaper reported that Pennsylvania authorities had served at least six search warrants on the couple's home and business, seizing truckloads of motorcycles, parts, computer records, documents and other items.

The AP reported that David Gebert was transferred to Allegheny County Jail in Pennsylvania to face the federal charges there.

Federal court documents show that a grand jury originally returned a 42-count indictment against David Gebert on charges of conspiracy, possession of stolen motor vehicles, operating a chop shop, money laundering, illegal financial transactions exceeding $10,000, and structured transactions.

The grand jury indicted Linda Gebert on 24 counts, which included all the same charges except those of "structured transactions."

According to federal court documents, David Gebert's plea agreement with prosecutors states that his penalty would not exceed 35 years in prison and fines of $750,000. Under terms of Linda Gebert's plea agreement, her penalty would not exceed 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

The couple will be sentenced Aug. 30.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com