Minnesota Militia Commander Admits To ID Theft Charge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man accused of stealing identification information from members of his former Army unit has pleaded guilty to an identity theft charge.

Prosecutors say Keith Michael Novak, of Maplewood, is a self-described militia commander who planned to use the stolen information to make fake IDs for his militia members.

He entered his guilty plea in federal court in Minneapolis on Monday. Judge Patrick Schiltz ordered that he remain in custody. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to court documents, Novak was on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina from 2009 to 2012, served in Iraq in 2010, and later joined the Minnesota National Guard. An FBI affidavit says he shared information on members of his former unit with undercover agents.