Former South Dakota Agent Faces 60 Years in Prison for Fraud

January 23, 2006

A former South Dakota insurance agent has changed his plea in a fraud case. Ryan Wingler, 33, of Sioux Falls, is accused of taking more than $170,000 from elderly South Dakota customers between 2004 and 2005 while acting as their insurance agent, according to an Associated Press account.

Wingler was scheduled to go to trial this week. However, Wingler decided in court to change his plea to guilty to six of the 13 charges against him. The prosecution in the case said he did the "right thing" by pleading guilty.

The judge will decide later how much restitution Wingler will required to make. A sentancing date has not been set, but he could face up to a maximum of 60 years in prison.