A Day County Grand Jury has found a local auto mechanic guilty of grand theft after the suspect billed an elderly man for tens of thousands of dollars worth of fraudulent repairs of his pickup truck.
Fifty-nine-year-old Gary Podzimek of Bristol was found guilty of grand theft by deception, attempted grand theft by deception, deceptive act or practice, and various counts of tax violations.
The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office says Podzimek billed the 83-year-old male victim more than $50,000 for bogus repairs to his 1976 pickup truck.
Authorities say Podzimek received more $39,000 before the victim died prior to getting his truck returned.
The attorney general’s office says Podzimek also filed inaccurate tax returns relating to his Day County auto repair business.
A formal sentencing date has not yet been set.
