District of Montana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
U.S. Marshals Service Montana Violent Offender Task Force celebrates 20th AnniversaryRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — The U.S. Marshals Service Montana Violent Offender Task Force today commemorated and celebrated its 20th Anniversary of working in partnership with federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies to arrest violent fugitives on felony warrants, closing a total of 22,520 warrants across Montana, the United States and globally, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich and U.S. Marshal Craig Anderson announced today.
During a joint press conference in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney Laslovich and Marshal Anderson discussed the MVOTF’s mission and accomplishments. Joining in the celebration were former U.S. Marshals Darrell J. Bell and Dwight MacKay, along with representatives of the MVOTF 41 partner law enforcement agencies.
“For 20 years, the brave people who have served on the Montana Violent Offender Task Force have consistently risked their own lives to keep all of us safe. Their extensive training, collaboration, and courage have removed thousands of dangerous and violent offenders from our streets, most without incident. And while it is difficult to measure the number of lives they’ve saved, we know it is significant. They are the best of our state and nation. As we pause to celebrate the extraordinary work of the last 20 years, we also pledge to every Montanan that we are just as committed to the work ahead and we will never rest until justice is achieved,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Looking beyond the dangers the Task Force members faced each time they made an arrest and looking beyond the incalculable positive impacts the seizures of guns and drugs have had, there is one over-arching and significant take away. And that is the irrefutable evidence that when law enforcement agencies from tribal, local, county, state and federal agencies coalesced around the mission of tracking down Montana’s most dangerous criminals, these are the results that followed,” U.S. Marshal Anderson said. “Montanans should expect and deserve this level of coordination and cooperation from their law enforcement agencies. And we should celebrate when those successes produce such fantastic results.”
Since 1865, when Montana was still a Territory, the U.S. Marshals Service has been hunting wanted persons on behalf of Montana citizens and the federal government. In 2005, under the Presidential Threat Protection Act and with the Attorney General’s direction, the U.S. Marshals Service established the MVOTF for Montana. At the time, the MVOTF was one of five similar task forces started in the country. The U.S. Marshals Service oversees permanent task forces composed of federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest fugitives. At its beginning, the MVOTF’s charter members included the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Montana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department. Over the past 20 years, 41 agencies and 164 law enforcement officers have participated on the MVOTF, with 38 agencies currently participating.
The U.S. Marshals Service deputizes task force officers from the various agencies, which allows officers to work across jurisdictions. Task force members share resources and prioritize warrants to identify and pursue the most wanted and violent fugitive to improve public safety.
In the 20 years of its existence, the MVOTF has closed a total of 22,520 arrest warrants. The task force also has seized a total of 531 firearms and pounds of narcotics, including methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and powder, cocaine, heroin, marijuana and prescription pills. In addition, task force arrests have resulted in seizures of 91 vehicles, $598,196 in U.S. currency and $61,040 in counterfeit currency.
To celebrate the 20 years of service to the United States and State of Montana, the U.S. Marshals Service has authorized a commemorative patch to be awarded to current and past MVOTF members, along with a patch for past and present participating agencies.
The MVOTF members include:
- Charter members: U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; Montana Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole; Billings Police Department; and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office.
- Current members: Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Gallatin, Dawson, Custer, Carbon, Big Horn, Cascade, Glacier, Roosevelt, Valley, Hill, Pondera, Fergus, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark and Missoula county sheriff’s offices; Bozeman, Laurel, Red Lodge, Glendive, Great Falls, Cut Bank, and Helena police departments; Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, Fort Peck Department of Law and Justice; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Border Patrol-Havre Sector; Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Forest Service, Region 1; and Montana Highway Patrol.
- Past members: Montana Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Sexual or Violent Offender Registry; U.S. Postal Inspection Services; and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.
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Heart Butte man admits sexually abusing two girls on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man accused of sexually abusing children on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to charges on Jan. 14, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Bradley Joseph Guardipee, 26, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender. Guardipee faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release on the aggravated sexual abuse charges and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any sentence imposed on the aggravated sexual abuse charges, for the commission of a sexual offense by a registered sex offender.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 28. Guardipee was detained pending further proceedings.
In a plea agreement, the parties agreed that a specific disposition of between 20 years and 30 years in prison is appropriate in this case.
The government alleged in court documents that in July 2024, Jane Doe 3 disclosed that she was sexually assaulted by Guardipee in 2022, when she was 11 and was in a residence alone with Guardipee. Doe 3 was taking a nap when Guardipee sexually assaulted her. Doe 3 reported that she knew at least four other girls who were sexually abused by Guardipee. Forensic interviews followed and six girls disclosed some kind of abusive touching by Guardipee.
The government also alleged that Jane Doe 1 reported being sexually abused by the defendant since she was about three years old. She reported in March 2024, when she was 12 years old, that Guardipee sexually abused her while she was in a vehicle with him. At the time of the March 2024 assault on Doe 1, Guardipee was required to register as a sex offender. Guardipee was required to register after being convicted by a guilty plea in May 2023 to sexual assault in state District Court in Cascade County.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the FBI conducted the investigation.
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Browning man sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually abusing child, sending obscene material to minorsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal judge today sentenced a Browning man to 13 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for sexually abusing a child on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and for sending sexually explicit photographs of himself to minors, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Treston Lane Kickingwoman, 29, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of abusive sexual contact and two counts of transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2022, the victim, Jane Doe 1, disclosed to law enforcement that when she was about six years old, in 2014 or 2015, Kickingwoman sexually abused her one time. While staying at a house in Browning, Kickingwoman laid down on the bed by her and sexually abused her. Kickingwoman stopped when another person started moving in the room.
Nearly a decade later, in March 2024, an FBI online covert employee with a fictitious persona as a juvenile began communicating on Facebook with Kickingwoman. Kickingwoman sent the persona explicit pictures and videos of his genitalia and solicited sexually explicit pictures from her. During a search of Kickingwoman’s Facebook account, law enforcement discovered that Kickingwoman had sent pictures of his nude genitalia to dozens of separate Facebook accounts. Investigators identified two Facebook accounts for juvenile girls, Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3, who were living on the Blackfeet Reservation. Law enforcement interviewed both girls, who confirmed that they had messaged with Kickingwoman on Facebook Messenger in the summer of 2023, when they were 12 years old and that they told him they were 13. Kickingwoman sent both girls pictures of his nude genitalia and solicited sexually explicit pictures from them. Jane Doe 2 provided the requested photographs to Kickingwoman through his Facebook account.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Great Falls man admits strangulation and child abuse chargesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man accused of strangling a woman and abusing a child on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Lane Thomas Lamere, 36, pleaded guilty to strangulation and to felony child abuse. Lamere faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the strangulation charge and a maximum of five years in prison, a $50,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the felony child abuse charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 14. Lamere was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on January 12, 2024, in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Lamere entered the residence of his ex-girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe 2, who was home with a child, identified as Jane Doe 1, who was under 14 years of age. Lamere dragged Jane Doe 2 to a bedroom and choked her. Jane Doe 1 entered the room during the strangulation, and Lamere grabbed her and began assaulting the child. Jane Doe 2 ran to get help from a neighbor, who called the police as they ran back to Jane Doe 2’s house. Both Jane Doe 2 and the neighbor tried to pull Lamere off the child and struck him with a snow shovel, but he did not release Jane Doe 1. A Rocky Boy’s Police Department officer arrived and ultimately tased Lamere when he did not respond to orders to get off Jane Doe 1. Both victims were transported to Northern Montana Hospital and were treated for injuries.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Rocky Boy’s Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation.
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Business owner of Belgrade company admits tax evasionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — The owner of a business that operated in Belgrade admitted today to failing to pay federal income taxes, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Guy S. Cook, 59, of Dripping Springs, Texas, pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Cook faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $100,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Cook was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that from about January 2014 to Nov. 18, 2021 in Belgrade, Cook willfully attempted to evade paying income taxes for calendar years 2014 and 2015. Cook owned Bacterin International, Inc., a business that developed clinical medical laboratories. In 2014, Cook sold his shares in the company and obtained $2,467,176 in capital gains. Cook reported this income in 2014 and 2015 including taxes due of $604,574 and $39,310 respectively. Cook did not pay these amounts to the IRS, though his tax preparer advised him he was required to do so.
Between 2017 and 2021, Cook took steps to avoid paying his taxes, including using business bank accounts and a company credit card to pay more than $300,000 of his personal expenses and debts; using nominee bank accounts to remove more than $380,000 from his business for personal use; and converting more than $600,000 in his salary to stock in his business.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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Box Elder man admits sexually abusing child on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man today admitted to sexually abusing a child on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Brian Lee Bigbow, 47, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. Bigbow faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 20. Bigbow was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in April 2021, the victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, reported to state officials that she was sexually abused by Bigbow. In subsequent interviews, Doe 1 said the sexual abuse occurred when she was in Bigbow’s bedroom and that he had sexually abused her multiple times. Doe 1 was under the age of 12 years old at the time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Criminal Investigators conducted the investigation.
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Woman admits assaulting victim in Browning on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman accused of striking another woman from behind, causing serious injury to the victim’s eye, in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Autumn Rose Rider, 30, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Rider faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 20, 2025. Rider was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on July 24, 2022, the victim, Jane Doe, and Rider’s father drove Rider to a residence in Browning. While Jane Doe was standing outside of the vehicle and getting back into the car, Rider hit her from behind. The assault caused a laceration and caused Jane Doe to feel like there was a piece of glass in her eye. The victim was not sure if Rider hit her with a bottle or struck her with a fist and broke her glasses. Jane Doe was ultimately transported to Kalispell Regional Hospital for treatment of injuries to her eye and face.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Tennessee man admits selling unapproved drugs used in bodybuilding through his Kalispell business known as Rat’s ArmyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Tennessee man accused of creating and selling unapproved drugs for use in bodybuilding from his Kalispell business known as Rat’s Army admitted to a federal crime on Jan. 9, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tyler Jordan Hall, 31, of Greenville, Tennessee, was arraigned on and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with introduction of unapproved drugs into interstate commerce. Hall faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for May 15 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hall was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from June 2020 through March 2022, Hall operated a business in Kalispell known as Rat’s Army, LLC, to import, create, bottle and label drugs. Hall marketed these substances to individuals in the bodybuilding and fitness community to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat and counter the unwanted side effects of using bodybuilding drugs. Hall regularly caused the introduction of unapproved new drugs containing Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) and other active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) into interstate commerce.
Many of these substances were not safe for human use except for under the supervision of a practitioner licensed to administer prescription drugs. Some drugs were of similar composition to Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, which require special boxed warnings in their labeling emphasizing serious potential side effects, including pulmonary embolism.
The government further alleged that Hall obtained proceeds of approximately $3,805,470 from Rat’s Army. This income was, at least in part, from the sale of unapproved drugs, including Raloxifene, Tamoxifen and Pramipexole, in interstate commerce.
Hall knowingly took steps to mislead and defraud United States regulatory agencies, including the FDA, about the true nature of products he was selling on the Rat’s Army website. Hall falsely portrayed his products as “research chemicals” and “not for human consumption,” despite knowing and intending that the products were for human ingestion to affect the structure and function of their bodies. Hall also took steps to mislead and defraud consumers to whom he was offering the sale of these drugs by posting misleading Certificates of Analysis on the website to convince consumers that Rat’s Army was manufacturing products which were legitimate and safe to consume.
Hall knew the substances he was distributing required prescriptions, but he falsely claimed, “you do not need a doctor to write a prescription” or “access to a pharmacy, or pharmacist” to obtain products through Rat’s Army. He repeatedly held out his company as a “pharmaceutical manufacturing” business, but he was not a pharmacist, nor did he ever employ a licensed pharmacist at Rat’s Army. And Hall never registered Rat’s Army with the FDA as a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility as is required.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FDA conducted the investigation.
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Poplar man who stole truck after stabbing driver on Fort Peck Indian Reservation sentenced to 57 months in prisonRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man who admitted to robbery after carjacking a truck and stabbing the driver on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 57 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Brandon Lee Romero,30, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to robbery.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on April 14, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe, was contacted by his sister who asked him to pick up Romero and give him a ride because she didn’t want him at her residence. John Doe agreed and, using his father’s truck, picked up Romero and began driving him to Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. When Romero got out of the truck, John Doe noticed that Romero had pulled out two knives. John Doe attempted to drive away, but Romero jumped into the truck bed, kicked out the back window, climbed into the truck and stabbed John Doe. The victim exited the truck, and Romero got into the driver’s seat. Romero drove the stolen truck into Williams County, near Williston, North Dakota, and was arrested later that day by law enforcement after he got into a high-speed chase. Romero drove the vehicle into a ditch to avoid spike strips set up by law enforcement, submerged the vehicle in a creek and fled on foot until ultimately surrendering.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and the Williston (N.D.) Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Oregon man sentenced to more than seven years in prison for trafficking meth in Helena areaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal judge today sentenced an Oregon man to seven years and four months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he admitted to trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the Helena community, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Olin Carl Herendeen, 48, of Salem, Oregon, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in June 2022, the Missouri River Drug Task Force began investigating a woman for running a large-scale drug trafficking ring that was bringing large amounts of meth and fentanyl into the Helena area from Washington. Herendeen was a member of the ring and assisted in bringing drugs from Washington to Montana. In February 20023, Herendeen, who was on state probation, went to the state probation and parole office in Helena to check in with his probation officer. Live ammunition was found on his person during a search. Herendeen admitted that there were multiple firearms in the vehicle he was driving. In a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found three firearms, AR-15 parts and approximately one ounce of meth. In an interview, Herendeen admitted to law enforcement to trafficking 50 pounds to 70 pounds of meth and 40,000 pills with the woman leading the ring in the year preceding his arrest. Seventy pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 253,680 doses. He also admitted to carrying a firearm for protection during some of the resupply trips to Washington.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Box Elder woman admits trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl on Rocky Boys Indian Reservation and firearm crimeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder woman accused of supplying the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation with large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from her residence and business and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Melody Rose Bernard, 50, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to use of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime. Bernard faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing was set for May 1 in Great Falls. Bernard was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from October 2023 to May 21, 2024, Bernard trafficked substantial amounts of meth, fentanyl and cocaine to the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in Hill County. One witness told law enforcement about making four trips for Bernard since November 2023 and estimated transporting 23 pounds of meth, 4,500 fentanyl pills, five ounces of fentanyl powder and three ounces of cocaine for Bernard. The witness further estimated transporting $230,000 for Bernard and watched as Bernard distributed narcotics from her house in Box Elder and from her business, Ziah’s. The witness also admitted that a firearm located in the residence belonged to the witness and that Bernard had given it to the witness for protection.
Law enforcement learned from other individuals that Bernard was selling narcotics out of Ziah’s. One of the individuals described buying fentanyl pills two or three times from Bernard, received 25 to 40 pills each time and was charged $10 to $20 per pill. In an interview with another person, law enforcement learned that Bernard was a source of supply for the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, dealing from 500 to 1,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Bernard’s common price for a pill was about $40, however, if someone purchased in bulk or if Bernard knew the buyer well, she would sell for as low as $10 to $20 per pill.
On May 21, 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Bernard’s residence. Both Bernard and a witness were in the house. The witness was located hiding in a bathroom. The agent observed a large amount of meth and cocaine in the bathtub with the water running, and it was apparent to the agent that the witness was attempting to destroy evidence. Law enforcement recovered meth, cocaine and fentanyl pills, approximately $8,800 cash and a firearm.
In addition, on March 27, 2024, co-defendant Airian Mariah Russette purchased two firearms from North 40 Outfitters in Havre and immediately traveled back to Box Elder where she traded the firearms to Bernard in exchange for four oxycodone pills. The two firearms were recovered several hours later after they were used in a double homicide and were still in the possession of the homicide suspects. Russette admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 to buy the firearms for someone other than herself, Bernard, a transaction known as a straw purchase. The firearms were a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Russette is pending sentencing for her conviction in the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The ATF, FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Havre Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Thompson Falls felon sentenced to more than five years in prison, fined $20,000 for illegal possession of firearms, shortened rifleRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Thompson Falls man with two prior federal felony convictions and other state felonies was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for admitting to firearms crimes after law enforcement found numerous guns at his residence, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, James Vernon Day, Jr., 56, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of an unregistered firearm.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also imposed a $20,000 fine.
The government alleged in court documents that Day previously had been convicted in federal court in Montana in 2004 of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and in 2018 of illegal sale of outfitted mountain lion hunts and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Day also had prior state felony convictions in Montana and Idaho. In December 2023, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Day’s property to serve a search warrant for stolen vehicle parts. Day confronted deputies but retreated into his residence as the search began. Day told deputies they could not enter his residence. During the search, Day was generally noncompliant with law enforcement’s requests for more than an hour and, in an effort to hide his illicit behavior, Day set fire to his phone.
During the search, deputies located a .44-caliber rifle in a shop building. The shop also had three gun safes that contained gun parts, including a barrel from an assault rifle and a barrel from a shotgun. Deputies also found a freshly killed deer head. Day eventually exited his residence and was arrested. In a search of Day’s residence, deputies located an additional 36 firearms, which were strewn around the house. One of those firearms, found on the kitchen floor, was a .222-caliber rifle that had a barrel of less than 16 inches. Possession of a firearm with a shortened barrel is against federal law. In Day’s vehicle, deputies found a .44-caliber revolver.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Jan. 2 was:
Jeffrey Thomas Maki, 40, of Billings, on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Maki faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on the identity theft charge. Maki was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-171.
Appearing on Dec. 23, 2024 was:
Ricardo Alberto Salazar Contreras, 33, unknown residence, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Contreras faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. Contreras was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, FBI and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-169.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Dec. 30, 2024 was:
Felipe Michael Garza, 31, of Washington, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garza faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Garza was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-65.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Missoula man sentenced to more than 19 years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl in communityRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted to distributing pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills that were shipped from Washington was sentenced today to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Alejandro Romero, 36, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“We won’t make progress against our nation’s drug epidemic unless the biggest drug traffickers are held accountable, which we’ve done today. Romero is responsible for peddling pounds and pounds of meth and thousands of fentanyl pills, including pink pills, as well as distributing fentanyl powder. His lengthy federal prison sentence shows we are determined to make the progress Montanans expect and deserve regarding drug traffickers poisoning our communities,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government alleged in court documents that from December 2023 through March 2024 in Missoula, Romero possessed fentanyl, and meth for distribution. During the sentencing hearing, the court noted that Romero was distributing fentanyl, including pink fentanyl. Pink fentanyl is a more potent form of the drug. One individual purchased approximately two pounds of meth directly from Romero in separate transactions and also purchased fentanyl pills and heroin from him. The individual also witnessed Romero in his hotel room and in possession of thousands of fentanyl pills, pounds of powdered fentanyl, 10 pounds of meth, which is the equivalent of approximately 36,240 doses, and a little more than two pounds of heroin. Another individual received approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills in Washington in a drug transaction that Romero arranged and had fronted the individual $3,000 to obtain the pills. When interviewed Romero admitted that he distributed in Montana large quantities of meth and fentanyl that had been shipped from Washington.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and Missoula Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Two Missoula residents admit to trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, meth in communityRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — Two Missoula residents accused of working together to distribute more than 100,000 fentanyl pills and pounds of meth in the community admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendants, Taylor Gale Penny, 35, and Joey Lee Forward, 34, each pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for April 24, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Penny was detained pending further proceedings. Forward was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force was investigating Penny and Forward for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine from November 2023 until September 2024. Information received indicated the defendants were moving more than 100,000 fentanyl pills and pounds of meth. During various encounters with law enforcement, the defendants possessed more than 1,000 fentanyl pills and 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine. Confidential sources stated that Penny and Forward were the biggest dealers in Missoula.
After her arrest on Sept. 3, 2024, Penny told law enforcement that she began distributing fentanyl in January 2024 to support her habit. In March 2024, she was distributing approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills per week in Missoula. In total, she admitted to distributing well over 120,000 pills over the last nine months.
Penny told law enforcement she met Forward two years prior and was purchasing fentanyl pills from him. They then began to work together, and she would cut him in on profits she received. She estimated that Forward distributed four ounces of methamphetamine every week over the last six months, for approximately six pounds of methamphetamine.
Forward told law enforcement that he would distribute 85 fentanyl pills each day. He admitted also distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl powder.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Lodge Grass man sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing child on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man who admitted to sexually abusing a child on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced on Dec. 18 to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Marty Edward Plenty Hawk, 30, pleaded guilty in August to aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact of a child as charged in an indictment.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
“Plenty Hawk manipulated and subjected the victim, a child, to years of sexual abuse. I am relieved he will serve extensive time in federal prison because his repeated conduct toward this child was unconscionable. Our office and law enforcement partners have no greater responsibility than to protect kids by holding dangerous people accountable. This prosecution shows we won’t hesitate to honor that responsibility, which we will continue to do in the future,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that between 2021 and May 2023 near Lodge Grass, on the Crow Indian Reservation, Plenty Hawk forced the victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, who was under the age of 12, to engage in a sexual act and in sexual conduct. On May 2, 2023, law enforcement arrested Plenty Hawk after a domestic disturbance at his residence. While in custody, Plenty Hawk wrote a confession that he had been carrying on a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1. A sexual assault examination of Jane Doe 1 noted injuries consistent with child sexual abuse. In an interview with law enforcement, Plenty Hawk again admitted to having a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1, including sexual intercourse multiple times.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Kalispell woman admits fraud, aggravated identity theft charges in scheme that used hospital patient recordsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Kalispell woman accused in a scheme to activate and use stolen credit or debit cards with personal information obtained from patient records at Kalispell Regional Medical Center admitted to fraud charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Alecia Mae Leonetti, 50, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Leonetti faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised on the wire fraud charge and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft charge.
U.S. Magistrate Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for April 24, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Leonetti was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that between September 2020 and December 2020, Leonetti’s co-defendant, Krista Hall, was employed at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Because of Hall’s employment, she had access to the hospital’s patient records. Leonetti would obtain stolen credit or debit cards and then contact Hall for Hall to look up the cardholder’s personal identifying information. Leonetti would use the personal identifying information to activate the stolen card and then use the card to make purchases or withdraw cash. In one instance, Leonetti obtained a Glacier Bank credit card belonging to John Doe, obtained Doe’s personal identifying information from Hall and activated the card. Leonetti admitted to law enforcement she accumulated more than $2,400 in charges at several Kalispell businesses over two days in September 2020. Hall has pleaded not guilty to charges in the case and is pending trial.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Billings woman who trafficked meth for Washington suppliers sentenced to eight years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings woman who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine from a Billings residence as part of a multi-state organization supplied by Washington sources was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Anita Mae Ballestersos, 36, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that beginning in September 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated a group of meth traffickers, including Ballesteros, in the Billings area and twice purchased meth from Ballesteros in controlled buys. Ballesteros was one of seven defendants involved in a multi-state drug trafficking ring that operated from a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings. A group of males from Washington brought to Montana pounds of meth that Ballesteros and a co-defendant distributed to their network of dealers. Ballesteros was known to distribute most of the meth from this Washington group and sold in ounce and half-pound quantities. Ballesteros also was obtaining and providing firearms to her Washington sources. A co-defendant described Ballesteros as having enough meth to “keep Billings awake.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announces dismantling of Great Falls fentanyl trafficking ringRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, along with multiple law enforcement partners, today announced the dismantling of a large fentanyl trafficking ring that brought tens of thousands of pills to the community from Washington for distribution and led to convictions of 10 individuals on federal charges. The investigation also led to individuals facing charges in state court.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich, along with Great Falls Police Chief Jeff Newton and Cascade County Attorney Joshua Racki, discussed the investigation during a news conference at the Great Falls Civic Center and were joined by representatives of the Russell Country Drug Task Force. The drug task force is composed federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.
“Taking down fentanyl trafficking rings to reduce drug-related violence and overdoses and death caused by this extremely dangerous drug is critical to the health and safety of our communities, like Great Falls. These traffickers try to move in and enlist local dealers to profit off persons who are addicted to fentanyl. Dismantling this drug organization was possible only through the unwavering commitment and cooperation of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to bring these defendants to justice. We know the work needs to continue and we will continue to do it,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Already this year, in 2024, the Russell Country Drug Task Force interdicted a huge shipment of methamphetamine destined for Great Falls, and the amount of cocaine they’ve seized is nearly triple that of 2023,” Great Falls Police Chief Newton said.
“The Cascade County Attorney’s Office is dedicated to combatting the influx of illicit drugs by holding accountable those who bring them into our communities,” Cascade County Attorney Racki said.
The investigation into fentanyl trafficking in the Great Falls area began in the fall of 2022 and led to a supplier in the Tacoma, Washington, area. The supplier, Joseph Allen Conner, was arrested in June 2023, followed by the arrests of most of the other defendants in a coordinated multi-agency takedown in October 2023 in Great Falls. Several remaining federal defendants were sentenced in October in U.S. District Court in Great Falls.
The investigation determined that Conner made multiple trips to Montana, including Great Falls, to sell fentanyl pills and to distribute to other local dealers. Conner possessed "buckets full" of fentanyl pills and was seen with what one individual described as a "volleyball size bag" of pills. Conner was sentenced in May to five years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge. Overall, the investigation led to the seizure of tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and at least seven firearms.
In addition to defendant Conner, nine other individuals were charged in federal indictments and convicted.
The federal defendants include:
- Joseph Allen Conner, of Yakima, Washington: conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to five years in prison.
- Nicholas Cocklin, of Great Falls: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to one year in prison.
- Alanna Corcoran, of Great Falls: conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to Glacier drug court.
- Terry McIntire, of Great Falls: conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to two- and one-half years in prison.
- Michael McIntire, of Great Falls: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.
- Paul Regimbal, of Great Falls: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.
- Iesha Berry-Harris, of Tacoma, Washington: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentence to 15 months in prison.
- David Prien-Pinto, of Great Falls: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to five years in prison.
- Courtney Price, of Great Falls: possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Sentenced to three years and two months in prison.
- Casey Louis Ream, of California: possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the cases. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Russell Country Drug Task Force, Great Falls Police Department and the Cascade County Attorney’s Office investigated the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Heart Butte man admits manslaughter charge in fatal crash on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man today admitted to causing a fatal crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation after he had been drinking and driving, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Chasen James Kipp, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Kipp faces a maximum of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 23, 2025. Kipp was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 31, 2023, Kipp was driving a 2022 Dodge Charger near the Cut Bank airport on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation when he crossed the center line of traffic and collided with a sedan. The crash killed the sedan’s driver, identified as Jane Doe. Law enforcement responded and observed Kipp. An officer described Kipp staggering and could smell alcohol on him. A toxicology report showed Kipp had a blood alcohol concentration of .114 and had cocaine in his system. A crash investigation determined that Kipp was going 82 mph in a 65-mph zone when he crossed the center line and struck Doe’s vehicle. Doe was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma suffered in the crash.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Cut Bank Police Department, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and FBI conducted the investigation.
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Hardin man admits promoting prostitution of minor girlRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Hardin man accused of offering to pay a minor girl for sexual contact and providing her alcohol admitted today to a prostitution-related crime, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, William Serges Joseph, 76, pleaded guilty to use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. Joseph faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Under the terms of plea agreement, the parties agree that a sentence of not less than one year in prison is appropriate.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court set sentencing for April 18, 2025. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Joseph was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that during an interview in March 2023 in Hardin, a juvenile girl, identified as Jane Doe, discussed that she began showing her breasts to Joseph in September 2022. The two messaged each other on Facebook, and Joseph was aware of Doe’s age. Doe disclosed that she allowed Joseph to touch her sexually in exchange for alcohol, and that he asked her for pictures of her naked. In a later interview, Doe said Joseph continued to message her and offered her $50 for sexual contact. A review of Doe’s cellular phone identified a February 2023 message from Joseph with a picture of male genitalia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Browning man admits trafficking meth on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man today admitted to trafficking methamphetamine on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation after an investigation in which law enforcement seized meth and five firearms from his residence, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, David William Sharp, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth. Sharp faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 23, 2025. Sharp was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the spring of 2023, law enforcement in Browning received information that Sharp was distributing meth in and around the community. Witnesses told investigators Sharp received drugs from a supplier in the Kalispell area with the intent of selling them on the Blackfeet Reservation. Law enforcement conducted three controlled buys of meth from Sharp at his residence. Following the last purchase in November 2023, law enforcement executed a tribal search warrant at Sharp’s residence. Investigators seized 296 grams of pure meth, packaged in 11 baggies, drug paraphernalia, and five firearms. The purchased and seized drugs totaled approximately 315 grams of meth.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Billings man admits possessing stolen firearm after breaking into police vehiclesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of breaking into police vehicles and stealing a shotgun, body armor and medical supplies admitted to a firearm crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Jacob Charles Berger, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. Berger faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Berger was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in March, the Billings Police Department began an investigation into the vandalism of five law enforcement vehicles that occurred March 5, 2024 to March 15, 2024 in which multiple items were stolen, including medical kits, body armor and, on one occasion, a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition. Surveillance video from of one of the thefts showed a suspect wearing black shoes and riding a black and red bicycle with skinny tires. Investigators recovered the bicycle and identified three latent fingerprints on the bike as Berger’s. Law enforcement arrested Berger at his residence on an unrelated warrant. Berger admitted to breaking into police vehicles and taking body armor, medical supplies and a shotgun. Officers served a search warrant on Berger’s garage and, along with the shotgun, they located seven other firearms that had been reported stolen between July 2023 and March 2024. Officers also located the medical kits and body armor Berger had taken from the police vehicles.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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New Mexico man sentenced to prison for stealing Montana Historical Society documents; letters by wife of Western artist Charlie “C.M.” RussellRead the Press Release
HELENA — A New Mexico man who admitted stealing 100-year-old items, including letters by the wife of Western artist Charlie “C.M.” Russell, from the Montana Historical Society and selling them on eBay for profit was sentenced today to six months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and fined $4,000, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Brian Anthony D’Ambrosio, 50, of Sante Fe, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in July to theft of major artwork.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $22,508 restitution. The court allowed D’Ambrosio to self-report to prison.
“D’Ambrosio’s actions were intentional and calculated—designed to steal Montana’s cultural treasures so he could profit. The Montana Historical Society, and all Montanans, were victims of D’Ambrosio’s greed because these documents were deeply rooted in Montana history. Today, D’Ambrosio faced the consequences, and we hope this case serves as a deterrent to anyone considering similar criminal conduct,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government in court documents said that D’Ambrosio’s actions targeted artifacts that would reap large profits, including a document tied to world-famous Western artist Charles M. Russell, and included a statement from the Montana Historical Society Staff about the scope of the damage D’Ambrosio caused:
“The items stolen by you (D’Ambrosio) from the collections belong to the people of Montana, not to you for your selfish, greedy purposes. Your actions forced us to implement stricter rules regarding access and use of historical documents, which impacts all future researchers…. The emotional and financial impacts will be felt for generations.”
The government alleged in court documents that D’Ambrosio, while claiming to conduct research at the Montana Historical Society, a museum located in Helena, stole items from the archives from about April 2022 to September 2023. The stolen items included letters written by Nancy Russell, the wife of renowned Western artist Charlie “C.M.” Russell. The stolen items were more than 100 years old, were of cultural heritage and exceeded $5,000 in value. D’Ambrosio then sold and attempted to sell the stolen items for profit on eBay. An undercover FBI agent posed as a would-be purchaser to confirm D’Ambrosio was the individual stealing the items from the Montana Historical Society and selling or attempting to sell the items on eBay for a profit, none of which was authorized.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI Art Crime Team and Helena Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Whitefish doctor sentenced for defrauding Medicare and other federal health programsRead the Press Release
Note: This release has been updated to include a quote from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
MISSOULA — A Whitefish doctor who admitted defrauding Medicare and other federal government health programs through a telemedicine conspiracy that resulted in more than $31 million in false billing was sentenced today to six months in prison, to be followed by six months of home confinement, fined $100,000 and ordered to pay $780,509 restitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The defendant, Ronald David Dean, 64, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The case was part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also ordered Dean to be placed on one year of supervised release after his confinement.
“Submitting false claims for medical services that were not provided will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to VA OIG’s dedication to investigating those who commit fraud and seek to benefit improperly from programs that are meant for deserving veterans.”
“Our office will continue to work alongside other federal agencies investigating crimes like this. The efforts of the VA-OIG, HHS-OIG and RRB-OIG agents, and the supporting personnel, combatted this fraudulent activity. We have an obligation to protect federal funds, and the abuse of our Medicare system will not be tolerated,” said Railroad Retirement Board Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Douglas Williams.
“Every American pays for healthcare fraud, potentially through higher health insurance premiums, exposure to unnecessary medical procedures, and increased taxes” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Ronald Dean put profit before patients. This case, along with the coordinated nationwide effort, reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to investigating fraud, protecting patients, and maintaining the integrity of government funded programs.”
“Holding health care professionals accountable for causing the submissions of false claims to Medicare is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring critical resources are appropriately used, “ said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We are committed to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs and the people who rely on those programs, including investigating schemes that undermine the legitimate delivery of telehealth services.”
The government alleged in court documents that Dean, a licensed physician, was paid by a telemedicine company to sign orders for durable medical equipment that patients did not need. Dean then fraudulently charged Medicare, CHAMPVA and the Railroad Retirement Board programs for telemedicine office visits that did not occur. The telemedicine company also used Dean’s information to prescribe unneeded and unnecessary covid tests to patients. The conspiracy ran from about January 2022 until July 2023. The total amount billed to Medicare, the VA and the Railroad Retirement Board based on orders Dean signed was $31,432,001, and the total amount paid from those programs was $13,785,724.
As part of the scheme, Dean relied on information provided by people he did not know, with an unknown amount of training or experience, to prescribe braces for beneficiaries he did not see or evaluate himself. Dean frequently did not even talk to the beneficiaries, and when he did it was merely to tell them the braces were approved. Dean had no idea if those people who received braces actually needed them. With the covid tests, Dean provided blanket authorization for the telemedicine company to send out tests to anyone and bill Medicare for as many covid tests as the company desired.
The case was part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana worked with the Department’s Criminal Division and the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the enforcement period: the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General and FBI.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Dec. 13 was:
Jerod John Chambers, 35, of Miles City, on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chambers faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Chambers was detained pending further proceedings. The Miles City Police Department, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-24.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan pleading not guilty on Dec. 10 was:
Jeremy Allen Malloy, 42, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Malloy faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Malloy was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-145.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Plains man sentenced to five years in prison for possessing firearm with obliterated serial numberRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Plains man who admitted to a firearms crime after trying to sell a gun with an obliterated serial number was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Zen York Lowther, 36, pleaded guilty in August to possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement learned Lowther was in possession of firearms and controlled substances and was on state parole for felony burglary and theft. Law enforcement also received information that Lowther was engaged in the sale of firearms. Agents arranged for a confidential source to meet with Lowther to purchase firearms. Lowther agreed to sell two pistols and a shotgun on Aug. 2, 2023 in St. Regis. When Lowther arrived, he was taken into custody. In a search of his vehicle, law enforcement located a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number in a bag along with 9mm ammunition. In addition, there was a 12-gauge shotgun on the center bench seat and $5,257. In a search of Lowther’s residence, agents recovered 19 more firearms and two silencers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Plains Police Department, Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Meth, fentanyl trafficking send Helena man to prison for more than 11 yearsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal judge today sentenced a Helena man to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in the community, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Christopher Paris Stockdale, 34, pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
“Stockdale, armed with a gun, worked with others to bring these poisons into Helena. His conduct had the potential to seriously injure or kill thousands of users, but with today’s sentence, he is no longer a risk to our community for a long time. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers like Stockdale to ensure they end up in federal prison with him,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that Stockdale possessed multiple firearms and was responsible for importing thousands of fentanyl pills and pounds of meth into the state. Stockdale committed these crimes while on state parole for drug offense. In the spring of 2023, drug task force officers in Helena developed information that Stockdale was working with others to supply various narcotics in the community. The investigation led to Stockdale being detained on parole violations. In a search of his truck, law enforcement located several hundred fentanyl pills, more than 100 grams of meth, a 9mm pistol and several rounds of ammunition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Billings meth trafficker sentenced to more than 10 years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine as part of multi-state drug organization was sentenced today to 10 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Anthony Enemyhunter, 37, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. Attorney Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Enemyhunter was among a group of individuals involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization that operated from a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings. A group of males from Washington brought pounds of meth into Montana and used these individuals to distribute meth and fentanyl. Enemyhunter was identified as selling meth from a Billings hotel. A probation search of his hotel room resulted in the seizure of a firearm, ammunition and a small amount of meth. Enemyhunter also sold meth to a confidential source on two occasions. In February, the Montana Highway Patrol stopped his vehicle and found Enemyhunter to be in possession of meth and several firearms, including one that was stolen.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Great Falls man admits trafficking fentanyl pills in communityRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man today admitted to distributing fentanyl and other drugs in the community while he was on state probation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Michael Shawn O’Neill, 59, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. O’Neill faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. O’Neill detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 4, 2023, O’Neill, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed thousands of fentanyl pills for redistribution, as well as four firearms, methamphetamine and heroin. O’Neill was arrested on Sept. 4, 2023 on a warrant for traveling outside of the district without permission. An investigation led to searches of his vehicle and residence. Law enforcement found 6,500 fentanyl pills, meth, U.S. currency, four firearms and 1,300 rounds of ammunition in his vehicle and additional fentanyl pills and U.S. currency in his residence. Later, officers located heroin and U.S. currency in a backpack retrieved from O’Neill’s vehicle. O’Neill told law enforcement he drove to Spokane to get his supply and believed he was one step away from the Cartel through a third party. He also said he had just spent $12,000 in Spokane on the drugs found in his backpack.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Montana Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Cut Bank man admits assaulting teen on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Cut Bank man today admitted to assaulting a teenage girl and breaking her jaw in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Elijah John Bullcalf, 21, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bullcalf faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. Bullcalf was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 25, 2023, Bullcalf assaulted the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was 17 years old, at a residence in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The two got into an argument, and Bullcalf struck Doe in the face, breaking her jaw. Doe was treated the next day for the injury. About a month after the assault, Bullcalf struck Doe again in the same part of the jaw, causing pain and bleeding. In early 2024, Doe and her mother reported the assault to law enforcement, and Bullcalf admitted to the assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 5 was:
Artemus Lavelle Brock, 35, of Bozeman, on charges of coercion and enticement to travel to engage in prostitution and transportation for prostitution. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brock faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Brock was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-35.
Appearing on Dec. 3 was:
John Doe AKA Jose Alfredo Collazo Nadal, of Billings, on charges of false statement in application of a passport. If convicted of the most serious crime, Doe faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Doe was detained pending further proceedings. The Diplomatic Secret Service conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-156.
Appearing on Nov. 26 was:
Cody Lloyd Smith, 41, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Smith faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Smith was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-165.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Ennis meth trafficker sentenced to 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — An Ennis man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found two pounds of meth and approximately 50 firearms in his residence was sentenced on Dec. 5 to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Jason Michael Hoover, 47, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided.
“Hoover’s drug trafficking conduct was especially dangerous, not only because of the amount of meth involved, but also because of the large number of firearms found in his residence. Hoover used guns as currency to distribute and receive meth. With this sentence, the firearms will no longer be on our streets and neither will Hoover,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government alleged in court documents that in July 2022, law enforcement identified Hoover as a suspect in storage unit thefts in Gallatin County. The investigation led to a search in February 2023 of Hoover’s residence, where officers found Hoover and co-defendant Gabriel Boe, attempting to hide in a laundry room. Officers observed a plastic bag of suspected methamphetamine adjacent to Hoover and Boe. After obtaining a second search warrant, law enforcement located more than two pounds of meth near where Hoover and Boe had been found. Officers also located approximately 50 firearms. Hoover told law enforcement he distributed meth and received guns in exchange and that he would trade guns and receive meth. Boe is pending sentencing for his conviction in the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Bank fraud scheme involving stolen identities and stolen U.S. Treasury checks send Illinois man to prison for more than five yearsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — An Illinois man who admitted to attempting to defraud financial institutions in Bozeman in a scheme using stolen identities and stolen U.S. Treasury checks was sentenced today to five years and five months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Dyonte Scott, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty in July to bank fraud, possession of stolen U.S. Treasury check and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
“Sophisticated bank fraud schemes, like the one attempted by Scott and his codefendant, Lorenzo Botello, harm multiple victims—banks, which are targeted for money; private citizens whose personal information is stolen and used; and the federal government through taxpayer-funded U.S. Treasury checks. This multi-state scheme ended in Montana due to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners and prosecution team,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“The sentencing of Scott and Botello, who possessed stolen Treasury checks and attempted to deposit the illicit funds, should serve as a resounding message to others who attempt to steal from the federal government,” said Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office. “IRS-CI is thankful for the great relationship we have with our local law enforcement partners in Montana and will diligently combat financial crimes that victimize the American public.”
In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 26, law enforcement caught co-defendant Botello, of Las Vegas, Nevada, at a financial institution in Bozeman. Botello had documents that were fraudulently using the identity of a person identified as John Doe. After arresting Botello, law enforcement reviewed his phone and found text messages between Scott and Botello showing that Scott was directing Botello how to lie to the financial institutions to perpetuate a U.S. Treasury check scheme. Scott directed Botello on what to say, what documents to use, what email addresses to provide and the bank location to target.
In one text message, Scott told Botello: “Lmk [how] everything goes[.] I’m right here with u the whole time.”
After opening the accounts, Scott and Botello were then planning on returning to deposit a real, but stolen, U.S. Treasury check totaling almost $1 million. When caught, Scott was carrying a stolen U.S. Treasury check for almost $1 million. Scott tore up the check in front of law enforcement. While in jail, Scott also directed others to delete evidence to obstruct the investigation.
The scheme involved a coordinated network of individuals who traveled throughout the United States attempting to cash million-dollar U.S. Treasury checks with banks. Botello was sentenced in October to 16 months in federal prison for his conviction in the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The IRS Criminal Investigation, Bozeman Police Department and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Townsend man admits illegal possession of gun after shooting, killing dogRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Townsend man accused of illegally possessing guns after he fatally shot his girlfriend’s dog following an argument admitted to a firearms crime on Dec. 4, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Gabriel Martin Puga, 33, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. Puga faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 16, 2025. Puga was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Puga was convicted of felony criminal endangerment in January in Broadwater County and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On March 21, Puga got into an argument with his girlfriend regarding her dogs. The girlfriend told law enforcement that Puga threatened her numerous times, including to use a gun. The same day, Puga took possession of his girlfriend’s .380-caliber pistol and her one-year-old white labrador. Puga asked a friend to go with him to the mountains to help him kill the dog.
The government further alleged that the friend met Puga with the dog in the mountains that day. Puga took possession of the friend’s .45-caliber pistol and shot the dog twice. Puga gave the .45-caliber pistol back to his friend and returned to his girlfriend’s house. The girlfriend said Puga told her he shot the dog twice and showed her a photo of the dog’s pawprint in the snow from where he had shot him. Multiple photos of the deceased dog and messages where Puga referenced shooting the dog were found on the same phone as the photo of the dog’s pawprint. Law enforcement located the deceased dog in the mountains and recovered fur and .45-caliber cartridge casings that were confirmed to have been fired from the friend’s pistol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office and Helena Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Federal judge convicts Boulder man of illegally possessing firearmRead the Press Release
HELENA — A federal judge on Dec. 4 convicted a Boulder felon accused of illegally possessing a firearm he had tried to hide and while he was on state supervision, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
After a one-day bench trial on Nov. 25, Chief U.S. Judge Brian M. Morris announced the verdict on Dec. 4, finding Paul Anthony LaFournaise, 59, guilty of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. LaFournaise faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 16, 2025. LaFournaise was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on May 11, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports that LaFournaise was threatening a sister at the family residence because believed the sister had stolen an item of his, a “black bag.” LaFournaise also called 911 to report that his brother had punched him in the face. The brother told deputies he had punched LaFournaise because LaFournaise had threatened his mom and sister and shoved him. Deputies ultimately identified LaFournaise as the primary aggressor and arrested him for partner/family member assault. The investigation determined that the sister had found items belonging to LaFournaise-- a 9mm pistol, a holster, ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia-- inside a black bag that was under a sweatshirt in a flowerpot inside a shed. The sister then hid the bag and contents from LaFournaise and was concerned because he is a felon, was on state supervision and prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. LaFournaise told investigators he had handled the gun and had purchased the drugs that were in the black bag. He had received the bag and knew it contained a gun before May 11. LaFournaise further explained that he had hidden the bag earlier in the day on May 11 by placing it in a planter and putting things on top of it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Probation and Parole and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Federal investigation into meth, fentanyl trafficking on Blackfeet Indian Reservation results in multiple indictmentsRead the Press Release
BROWNING — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, today announced that a six-month-long enforcement initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with, federal, tribal and local enforcement, into drug trafficking on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation has resulted in indictments of multiple individuals.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich, joined by representatives from the DEA, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Bureau of Indian Affairs, discussed the initiative during a press conference held at the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council offices in Browning, on the Blackfeet Reservation.
The DEA-led the enforcement action was initiated under its Operation Overdrive, which is aimed at combatting rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plaguing American communities. The initiative identifies hot spots to devote its law enforcement resources to communities where criminal drug organizations or networks are causing the most harm. The DEA, working in partnership with federal, tribal and local law enforcement agencies, identified the Blackfeet Reservation as a community for Operation Overdrive.
“Our office is well aware that the scourge of methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking is devastating to Montana communities and disproportionally harming Indian Country, including the Blackfeet Nation. Drug traffickers attempt to move into reservations and enlist residents to deal drugs and collect the proceeds. Focused enforcement actions, like this operation on the Blackfeet Reservation, not only get violent drug dealers and suppliers off the street, but also send the message that traffickers have no safe place on Montana’s Indian reservations. The progress we’ve made with this operation would not have happened without the cooperation of our federal, tribal, and local law enforcement partners, for which I am sincerely grateful,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“DEA’s Operation Overdrive shows our commitment to areas of the country experiencing high drug cartel activity, and the violence and crime that comes with it,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “I send our sincere thanks to the Blackfeet Reservation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, and commend our tribal, federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their hard work, dedication, and cooperation in bringing criminals to justice.”
The DEA initiative on the Blackfeet Reservation ran from approximately May to October and has resulted so far in the indictments of 11 individuals on various federal drug crimes, primarily involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and firearms crimes.
Assisting DEA in the enforcement action were Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and FBI.
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Theft of firearms from Billings pawnshop burglary sends Joliet man to prison for more than six yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Joliet man who admitted to stealing firearms from a Billings pawnshop during a burglary was sentenced today to six years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Lucious Machiavelli, aka Robert Allen Boyden, 48, pleaded guilty in August to theft from a federal firearms licensee.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court also ordered $8,783 in restitution.
The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 11, 2023, Pawnbrokers West, a federal firearms licensee, in Billings, was burglarized shortly before 3 a.m. Ten firearms were stolen during the break in. Five of the firearms are still at large. Law enforcement learned that Machiavelli was involved in the burglary. Some of the stolen firearms were recovered from the residence of a co-defendant, who told law enforcement that Machiavelli had brought the guns to the residence. Another co-defendant told law enforcement that he and Machiavelli broke into the pawn shop and stole the firearms.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Hays man admits to felony child abuseRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Hays area man accused of assaulting children on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to child abuse charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Catcher Cuts The Rope, 52, pleaded guilty to four counts of felony child abuse. Cuts The Rope faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each count.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 10, 2025. Cuts The Rope was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in May, Fort Belknap law enforcement notified the FBI that tribal social services had received a report from Jane Doe 1 about abuse committed by Cuts The Rope against her and two other children, John Doe and Jane Doe 2. John Doe disclosed that Cuts The Rope pointed a rifle at him during 2015 to 2017, when he was approximately 7 or 8 years old, and that two years ago, Cuts The Rope kicked him with boots and punched him, causing injuries. In approximately 2019, Cuts The Rope choked Jane Doe 1, when she was approximately 9 years old, and during 2021 to 2022, Cuts The Rope held a knife against the throat of Jane Doe 2, when she was approximately 10 years old.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement conducted the investigation.
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Great Falls woman admits to trafficking meth in communityRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman accused of distributing methamphetamine and traveling outside of Montana to pick up the drug admitted to a conspiracy charge on Monday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Melissa Ann Barone, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth. Barone faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 26, 2025. Barone was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Barone was involved in distributing meth in the Great Falls area and elsewhere from January 2020 until about April 2024. Numerous individuals who purchased or received meth from Barone corroborated Barone’s involvement. The government alleged that Barone was a drug runner for her co-defendant, Daniel Allen Wakeford, who pleaded guilty to charges and is pending sentencing, and that she borrowed vehicles to travel outside of Montana to pick up meth.
As part of her guilty plea, Barone agreed to forfeit cash totaling $74,951 that was seized from a motorhome and two BMWs, an AK-47 pistol and magazine, a 2016 BMW and a 2002 40-foot motorhome.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS, Great Falls Police Department and Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Lodge Grass woman sentenced to 10 years in prison for meth trafficking in large, multi-state drug conspiracy based on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass woman who trafficked methamphetamine to multiple Montana Indian reservations as part of large-scale, multi-state conspiracy that was based in her family home on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Sayra Longfox, 26, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that beginning in 2022, federal law enforcement in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, conducted a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking investigation that centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, received drugs from sources in Washington and supplied both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations and other reservations and communities in Montana. Longfox is one of 27 individuals, along with her mother, Frederica Lefthand, and her uncle, Wendell Lefthand, convicted in the investigation.
The government characterized Longfox as mid-level dealer who had an integral role in the conspiracy. Longfox sold in quarter pound to pound quantities, and she admitted to carrying a 9mm handgun for protection. Longfox sold drugs from Spear Siding and on the Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap reservations in northcentral Montana. Longfox distributed meth and cocaine she got from her mother along with drugs she obtained directly from co-defendant Carlos Arciga-Galvan, who is a fugitive. In one of her writings, Longfox said, “Call papi for me plez? I need at least a QP going up north for the powwow.” A QP is known to the government as a “quarter pound.” In a text message to Longfox, Frederica Lefthand praised her daughter’s work as drug dealer saying, “And you are doing a GREAT job Queen of the North.”
One cooperator described how Longfox “picked up the reins” when her uncle, Wendell Lefthand, went to jail and that she was “running the show” on Fort Belknap. Another cooperator described that Longfox ran the operation on Rocky Boy’s and in Hays, on the Fort Belknap, for Frederica Lefthand. Frederica Lefthand was sentenced to 24 years in prison, while Wendell Lefthand was sentenced to 15 years in prison for their convictions in the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Alberton trafficker sentenced to more than eight years in prison for role in bringing drugs from Mexico to MissoulaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal judge today sentenced an Alberton man to eight years and seven months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a drug trafficking scheme in which he worked with sources in Mexico to bring meth to Montana and to launder the proceeds, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Waylon Jack Greco, 44, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Greco was close to a source of supply in Mexico and worked to transport the drugs from the Mexican border to Montana. Greco’s drug distribution involved pounds of meth over several months, and he was a known drug distributor from about April 2023 through September 2023. Greco also worked with co-conspirators to launder drug proceeds back to Mexico, including devising a scheme to create business fronts through which to launder the money and by suggesting he marry a Mexican woman to whom he could legally make international transfers. Members of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office executed a state search warrant on Greco’s vehicle in May 2023 and located approximately 13 grams of meth, $1,001 in U.S. currency and three cell phones.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Billings woman admits trafficking fentanyl, brandishing firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings woman accused of dealing fentanyl in the community and to brandishing a firearm admitted to charges on Nov. 22, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Renee Esperanza Arambula, 27, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Arambula faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 26, 2025. Arambula was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in early 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Arambula for suspected drug trafficking. Agents determined that between May 2020 and January 2023, Arambula deposited more than $230,000 in cash into the bank and received thousands of dollars more through electronic payment but was making only a small fraction of the money through formal employment, with much of the money being proceeds from drug trafficking. The investigation further determined that Arambula was trafficking fentanyl and other drugs in the Billings community, with individuals admitting to purchasing fentanyl from her up to early 2023. During this time, Arambula also possessed and brandished a firearm in furtherance of her drug trafficking activities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Billings meth dealer sentenced to seven years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community as part of a group that was supplied by Washington sources was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Robert Allen Clark, 44, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Clark was one of seven defendants involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization that operated from a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings. A group from Washington brought pounds of meth into Montana and used these defendants to distribute meth and fentanyl. In 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this organization, and sources reported that Clark sold multi-ounce quantities to other dealers. Law enforcement seized methamphetamine sold by Clark. The government also identified Clark as a mid-level dealer who received meth from a co-defendant and then distributed to lower-level dealers. Clark has been selling meth for nearly 20 years, has three prior drug convictions dating to 2005, and was on parole for assault on a peace officer.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 19 was:
Crystal Joy Blakely, 37, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blakely faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Blakely was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-128.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 18 was:
Patricia Marie Holcomb, 56, of Kalispell, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Holcomb faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Holcomb was released pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-62.
Thomas Joseph Spotted Eagle, 41, of Pablo, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spotted Eagle faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Spotted Eagle was detained pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-48.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Billings construction company owner admits to tax evasionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings construction company owner accused of not paying federal income tax on his business and directing his bookkeeper to improperly categorize personal expenses as business expenses admitted to a tax crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Clay Wayland Buckmiller, 60, appeared for arraignment on and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with tax evasion. Buckmiller faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Buckmiller was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Buckmiller owns and runs a company he started in 2000 called Moonlight Construction. Buckmiller earned money through the company but has not filed taxes since 2009 for the 2007 tax year. Buckmiller knew of the requirement to file taxes. The IRS repeatedly notified him of his overdue taxes, including a notice he received in 2018 that he owed more than $88,000 in unpaid taxes—the balance of which the IRS has since written off because expired collection statutes.
In 2020, Moonlight earned taxable income, and Buckmiller’s bookkeeper notified him that he would be required to pay federal income tax. Buckmiller willfully made affirmative attempts during and after 2020 to evade paying taxes for that year:
- Buckmiller deposited customer checks into Moonlight’s bank account, but immediately withdrew large sums of cash, which he stored in a safe in his residence. Despite requests by his bookkeeper, Buckmiller refused to provide information about the source and use of these funds.
- Buckmiller instructed the bookkeeper to improperly categorize the withdrawals as business expenses, when in fact they were personal.
- Buckmiller deleted emails containing business-related invoices and instructed his bookkeeper to improperly categorize personal expenses as business expenses.
- Buckmiller lied to the bookkeeper by stating that the deposits he withdrew as cash were used to pay business vendors, when in reality, he used the money on personal expenses, including to buy a house in his girlfriend’s name.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The IRS conducted the investigation.
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Washington man sentenced to seven years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl on Flathead Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Washington man who was convicted of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl on the Flathead Indian Reservation after law enforcement found more than 5,000 fentanyl pills and meth in his car was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by seven years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Michael Davis Bryant, 48, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that the Northwest Drug Task Force was investigating meth and fentanyl distribution on the Flathead Reservation in 2021 and identified Bryant as a source of the drugs brought into Montana for distribution. In January 2022, agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase in Spokane, Washington, of 1,000 fentanyl pills from Bryant. Later that month, law enforcement tracked Bryant to the Flathead Reservation. Law enforcement learned Bryant was in a house and had a large quantity of fentanyl pills he was trying to sell. Bryant fled when law enforcement attempted to contact him. Officers searched Bryan’s car and located 5,636 fentanyl pills, a large quantity of meth and several scales. Bryant was arrested the next day on an outstanding federal warrant. He had a key to his vehicle on a lanyard around his neck.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Northwest Drug Task Force, Flathead Tribal Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, BIA and DEA conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announces almost $2 million in federal Justice Department grants to fight school violenceRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich today announced grant funding of almost $2 million to help fight school violence for two Montana educational entities from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.
The funding, totaling $1,999,992, is from the OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Fiscal Year 24 STOP School Violence Program Competitive Solicitation. The project period is from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2027.
The Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative in Lolo was awarded $1 million, while Billings Public Schools in Billings was awarded $999,992.
“The work of the Justice Department is often reactionary, as we seek to hold accountable those who violate the rule of law. But it is refreshing when we can be proactive in our work, which is why I am pleased to announce these grants. I applaud the work of the Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative and Billings Public Schools for their focus on mental health services and crime prevention. We are unwavering in our pursuit of those who commit school violence, and these grants show we are equally committed to preventing school violence from occurring in the first place,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative proposes the Expanding Montana Rural Student Mental Health Supports initiative, which aims to extend mental health resources to underserved rural, tribal and frontier schools in Western Montana. This project will provide comprehensive school mental health services, including trauma informed care, wellness training, curriculum and teletherapy to establish safe school environments and ensure equitable access to mental health services. The project builds on the success of Montana Cares, which currently serves more than 14,000 students and their families. Expanding care in Montana will extend those services in western regions, addressing significant inequities in school-based mental health resources, and serving an additional 13,000 students and their school community families.
Billings Public Schools (BPS) is the largest school district in Montana and serves more than 16,000 students. In the past four years, Billings has seen an increase in violent crimes, especially youth violent crimes and increased youth gang activity. Information from surveys, incident reports and Billings Police Department data demonstrate the need for support in BPS middle schools. The goal of BPS is to address the critical need for violence prevention, positive youth resiliency skill building and promotion of a positive school climate through the Culture of Care program. The Culture of Care program will use funding to hire two, full-time specialists to work directly with students in the six middle schools and a full-time program leader to coordinate training, support program implementation and promote stakeholder engagement. The program aims to reduce violence by addressing conflict before it occurs or escalates.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 12 was:
Sebastian Kessamer Gilder Jr., 26, of Phoenix, Arizona, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gilder faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Gilder was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference.24-74.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Nov. 12 was:
Franklin Troy Caplette, 40, of Box Elder, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Caplette faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Caplette was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and U.S. Probation Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-91.
Briana Noel Moore, 30, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Moore faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Moore was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-96.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 13 was:
Mallory Nehemiah Brown, 43, of Auburn, Washington, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brown faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Brown was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Libby Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-49.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Federal investigation of large meth trafficking ring on Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations results in 27 convictionsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A federal investigation into a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization that was based on the Crow Indian Reservation and distributed drugs to three other Montana Indian reservations and communities from suppliers in Washington and a Mexican cartel has resulted in federal convictions in Montana of 27 persons, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced today.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich, along with federal law enforcement partners, discussed the dismantling of the drug organization, known as Spear Siding, during a news conference in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Billings. Investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Bureau of Indian Affairs, the case was one of the largest federal drug trafficking probes in Montana in recent years.
According to court documents, beginning in June 2022, federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local law enforcement, conducted a large-scale investigation into a drug trafficking organization that centered on two residences on the Crow Reservation, including one referred to as Spear Siding, which was a family residence for some of the top-level dealers. The Spear Siding property was a source of meth for the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations. The conspiracy also expanded to the Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap reservations and to the Billings and Havre communities. The investigation determined that multi-pound quantities of meth and firearms were kept on the Spear Siding property. Firearms at Spear Siding were acquired by trading drugs for guns. Proceeds from drug sales went to Washington, California and Mexico.
The Spear Siding investigation culminated in April 2023 when the DEA, FBI, BIA, with assistance from local law enforcement, arrested numerous individuals at Spear Siding in a coordinated takedown. The case led to the convictions of 27 defendants from Montana and Washington, all of whom pleaded guilty to various drug trafficking and related crimes. On Nov. 5, Geofredo James Littlebird, Jr., of Lame Deer, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearm crimes. Littlebird, Sayra Longfox and Emma King are pending sentencing. Two alleged co-conspirators remain fugitives.
“The Spear Siding trafficking organization moved onto the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations to exploit and prey on persons addicted to meth and fentanyl, all due to greed. While meth and fentanyl distribution impacts all of Montana, these drugs continue to disproportionately devastate Indian Country. As this Spear Siding investigation shows, Montana’s Indian reservations are not a safe haven for out-of-state traffickers who think they can move in, set up shop, and enlist local residents to peddle drugs. Shutting down this far-reaching conspiracy is possible only through the relentless commitment and cooperation of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to bring these defendants to justice. I am proud of their work,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“DEA will continue focusing on organizations trafficking drugs into our communities. As seen in this case, Montana is not immune to cartel activity. Criminals should know we will be relentless in our pursuit, regardless of where they are distributing this poison,” Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jon Pullen said.
“Cartel members preyed on an already vulnerable population, further fueling the drug crisis on Montana’s Indian Reservations, and employing members of the community to peddle poison to their own people,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Too many lives have been lost to illicit drugs. Too many families have suffered. The FBI and our partners will not stop pursuing criminals harming our communities.”
“This investigation is a shining example of the power of unfettered cooperation between agencies when they share the common focus of eliminating controlled substances and the drug trafficking organizations distributing those substances. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Division of Drug Enforcement (DDE) is devoted to continuing to protect our native communities, combating illegal drug usage, possession, and distribution throughout Indian Country,” said Deputy Associate Director Tom Atkinson. “The BIA is thankful for the incredible partnerships it shares with the BIA-District 5, U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, and other agencies that assisted with the investigation.”
“The most effective way for law enforcement to protect our communities is through cooperation and coordination. The Spear Siding investigation and subsequent arrests and convictions demonstrate the effectiveness of cooperation and coordination by law enforcement on multiple levels,” U.S. Marshal Craig J. Anderson said.
Among the top-level dealers were Wendell Lefthand and his sister and co-defendant, Frederica Lefthand, who both resided at Spear Siding, the family home. Until his arrest in June 2022 on another matter, Wendell Lefthand ran the operation with co-defendant 1, who is a fugitive. Wendell Lefthand was selling about one pound of meth per week and had a Washington source, who introduced him to co-defendant 1. When co-defendant 1 eventually moved to Spear Siding, business started booming. After Wendell Lefthand’s arrest, Frederica Lefthand took over management of the Montana operation, which the government indicated involved “pounds and pounds and pounds” of meth. Frederica Lefthand worked directly with co-defendant 1, dispensed drugs to lower-level dealers, collected debts, organized deals, and recruited others to help her sell drugs and make money. Sources reported that Spear Siding would “never run out” of meth.
The government estimated that the Spear Siding conspiracy was responsible for bringing hundreds of pounds of meth to the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations for redistribution.
Convicted Spear Siding related defendants include:
- Wendell Lefthand, of Lodge Grass: 180 months in prison
- Frederica Lefthand, of Lodge Grass: 288 months in prison
- Roderick Plentyhawk, of Billings: 300 months in prison
- Carly Joy James, of Billings: 84 months in prison
- Jeffrey Prettypaint, of Crow Agency: 60 months in prison
- Darlon Richard Lefthand, of Billings: 84 months in prison
- Keilee Shambrae Diaz, of Hardin: 12 months, one day in prison
- Zachary Douglas Bacon, of Garryowen: time served
- Morgan Luke Hugs, of Hardin: 48 months in prison
- Anthony Springfield, of Hardin: time served
- Haley James, of Billings: time served
- John Littlehead, of Billings: 48 months in prison
- Marianna Wallace, of Omak, Washington: 36 months in prison
- Yvon Lopez Flores, of Omak, Washington: 48 months in prison
- Jacklyn Littlebird, of Lame Deer: time served
- Adrienne LaForge, of Lame Deer: 24 months in prison
- Geofredo James Littlebird, of Lame Deer: pending sentencing
- Nancy Hartsock, of Billings: 72 months in prison
- Joe Simpson, of Lame Deer: 240 months in prison
- Melanie Bloodman, of Billings: time served
- Renita Redfield, of Lodge Grass: 63 months in prison
- Daniel Jiminez-Chavez, of Omak, Washington: 84 months in prison
- Sayra Longfox, of Lodge Grass: pending sentencing
- Emma King, of Lame Deer: pending sentencing
- Antonio Infante, of Brewster, Washington: 128 months in prison
- Elisha Felicia, of Wyola: 60 months in prison
- Nicole Schwalbach, of Billings: 120 months in prison
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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