South Dakota Loan officer accused of stealing client's identity

A former commercial loan officer who allegedly fled the country after admitting to identity theft has been indicted in Minnehaha County.John Robert Delay, 36, of Dell Rapids, will face two counts of grand theft embezzlement, five counts of fogery and two counts of identity theft.An affidavit filed with his arrest warrant states that Deay attempted to sell an Egan man a loan from Great Western Bank in 2008. Delay was a loan officer with Great Western at that time.The man gave Delay copies of his income tax returns, and he allegedly used the information on them to secure two $14,000 loans without the victim's permission. He then deposited the money in his own account and used it to pay bills, the affidavit states.Delay spoke with detectives on May 10 and admitted the theft, the affidavit says. On May 11, the arrest warrant was issued.Between then and July 7, when deputies from the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office arrested him at the Empire Mall, prosecutors believe he was in Canada.His bond was set at $1,000 cash last week on the condition that he relinquish his passport.