District of Montana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Belgrade man arraigned on child pornography crimesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Belgrade man accused of producing and distributing child pornography involving multiple minors appeared today for arraignment on a nine-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Tyrell Forest Anderson, 35, also of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with three counts of production of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Anderson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Anderson was detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that on separate occasions in 2023 to March 2024, in Laurel and Bozeman, Anderson knowingly coerced three minors, identified as Jane Doe 1, 2 and 3, to produce sexually explicit images of themselves. The indictment further alleges that in February 2024 in Bozeman, Anderson distributed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to three other minors, identified as Jane Doe 4 and 5 and John Doe 1, using a computer and the internet, and that Anderson, using Snapchat, sent obscene images to two minors, identified as Jane Doe 6 and 7, in Bozeman.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bozeman Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
PACER case reference. 24-113.
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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Browning woman sentenced to more than three years in prison for meth trafficking on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced on Thursday to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Cynthia Ann Valenzuela, 28, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in the spring of 2023, Valenzuela was stopped in multiple vehicles containing meth and other evidence of distribution. In April 2023, Valenzuela was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation along with her co-defendant. Both occupants were arrested. More than 15 grams of meth was seized from the Valenzuela’s person while being booked into jail. A search of the vehicle also yielded evidence of distribution, including baggies and a digital scale. A month later, Valenzuela was in a different vehicle, again being driven by her co-defendant when they were again stopped by Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services for a traffic violation. The co-defendant was arrested and had a scale in his pocket. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and seized more than 170 grams of meth in a safe concealed as a book.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Glacier County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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17-year-old admits to murder in shooting death on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A 17-year-old accused of shooting and killing a man, whose body was recovered from the Little Big Horn River in Crow Agency, on the Crow Indian Reservation, admitted to murder and firearm charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Orrin Richard Alden III, of Crow Agency, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with second-degree murder and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Alden faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the murder charge and a mandatory 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
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 Dec. 12. Alden remained in custody pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on May 5, 2024, an unidentified body was recovered from the Little Big Horn River in Crow Agency. The body was later determined to be an 18-year-old male identified as John Doe. An autopsy was conducted, and two bullets were recovered—one from the side of the torso, which pierced Doe’s heart and lodged on the opposite side of his torso, and another bullet, which appeared to have entered his nostril, pierced his brain and lodged in his skull. The medical examiner found indications of the possibility that the barrel was placed into the nostril prior to firing.
Doe’s family last saw him alive on either April 27 or 28 as he was walking with a group of males toward the location on the Little Big Horn River where his body was recovered. Two of the males were identified by a photograph, and Alden was one of them. On the day Doe disappeared, a witness saw Doe with a black backpack that contained marijuana, a sizeable amount of methamphetamine and a large amount of cash. At approximately noon on April 27, surveillance video the Little Big Horn College Wellness Center recorded Alden walking with Doe and the other males. Doe had a black backpack and was wearing some of the same clothing as when his body was recovered approximately one week later.
The government further alleged that the group of males, including Alden and Doe, drank alcohol and smoked marijuana before walking to the river. Alden and one of the other males were overheard discussing that Doe was carrying $500 to $700. Alden, one of the males, and Doe got separated from the rest of the group. When that happened, a single shot was heard. Immediately after the first shot was heard, Alden was seen with a rifle in his hand. As Doe tried to run away, he grabbed his side and said, “You shot me, you shot me, Tripp (a nickname for Alden).” A second shot was heard. Minutes later, Alden and the male who was with him caught up with the rest of the group. They were laughing, and the other male had Doe’s backpack and the rifle. The barrel of the rifle was blown up on its tip.
The group then went to the basement of Alden’s house where Alden and the male who was seen carrying the backpack and rifle stripped off their clothing and put it in a black bag. The male used his shirt and rubbing alcohol to clean a hatchet. Another of the males asked if he could call an ambulance for Doe. The male who was with Alden when Doe was shot responded, “Are you … Stupid … No, if you call the ambulance all you’re going to find is just a non-living thing now.” Alden and the male took the rifle and black bag of clothing and stashed them in an abandoned building near Alden’s house.
When asked about the gun in the days following the shooting, Alden explained, “Bro it … blew up, when I … shot him in the neck … I had it so close that it just blew up … It blew the barrel up, like the tip of the barrel.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
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Missoula meth, fentanyl trafficker sentenced to more than six years in prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula woman who admitted conspiring to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced on Wednesday to six and one-half years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Robin Marie Holcomb, 42, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from May 2022 to September 2023, Holcomb and others distributed meth and fentanyl in the Missoula area. Law enforcement served a search warrant on a hotel where Holcomb was staying and located meth and 99 fentanyl pills. Holcomb attempted to call her sister to have her remove cash and drugs from Holcomb’s vehicle. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located $20,520 cash, 794 grams, which is approximately one and three-quarters pound, of meth and 5,013 fentanyl pills.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 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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Browning man admits assault in burning woman with hot knife on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of burning a woman on the hand with a hot knife in a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Dale Ray Racine, 32, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Racine faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
A plea agreement in the case calls for a sentence of between 41 months and 51 months in prison 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 Jan. 30, 2025. Racine remained detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, Racine was drinking at a residence in Browning. The victim, Jane Doe, also was present. At some point, Racine placed a green knife in a wood stove until it was red hot. Racine removed the knife from the fire and burned Doe with it. Doe reported to law enforcement and medical providers that Racine was trying to brand her neck. Doe held up her hand to stop the branding, at which point Racine intentionally burned her hand. Doe was treated for second-degree burns to her hand.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, investigated the case.
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Whitehall man sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for role in large meth, fentanyl trafficking ring that distributed drugs in Butte, Helena communitiesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Whitehall man convicted by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl as part of a large drug ring that distributed drugs in the Butte and Helena communities was sentenced today to 16 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, James Andrew Stringari, 52, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in a jury trial in April.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“Stringari played a critical role as the point-person between the leaders and lower-level dealers in this large drug trafficking conspiracy that brought at least 13 pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to the Butte and Helena areas. He was especially dangerous because he possessed a firearm and encouraged others to do the same. But his extensive federal prison sentence means he will no longer be a danger to our communities, for which I am grateful,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in Butte and Helena, Stringari and seven other co-defendants conspired to traffic meth and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by “Esco,” who was co-defendant Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, of Anaheim, California. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at Whitehall residence along with at least one co-defendant, Stringari, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. In addition, law enforcement corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, co-defendant Janet Dean White and another co-defendant.
Fuentes and White also were convicted in the April trial of conspiracy and possession charges. Fuentes was sentenced recently to 30 years in prison, while White was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The government alleged Stringari was long-term, high-level participant in the six-month conspiracy. Stringari procured drugs and guns, facilitated communication between the leaders of the conspiracy and the lower-level dealers and connected multiple parts of the conspiracy together. Without Stringari, the government continued, the conspiracy would not have been able to reach as far into the Butte and Helena communities as quickly as it did, as his local contacts were integral to the conspiracy’s success.
During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted packages containing thousands of pills that were mailed from California to the Whitehall address and to a Butte address. Law enforcement also learned that Fuentes had relocated to a house in Helena.
Law enforcement conducted coordinated raids of the Helena and Butte addresses. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
Co-defendants Martin Topete Garcia and his brother, Johnathan Topete, both of Mira Loma, California, pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Co-defendant Trevor Allen Handy, of Butte, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Co-defendant Anthony Wayne Johnson II, of Santa Ana, California, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and co-defendant Agatha Noriz Carranza, of Whitehall, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations 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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Missoula man sentenced to five years in prison for receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted to receiving and storing thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material from the internet was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Bryan Michael Balog, 31, pleaded guilty in May to receipt of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also ordered $39,000 restitution to 13 victims.
In court documents, the government alleged that in September 2022, Dropbox reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a Dropbox user had uploaded images of child sexual abuse materials to its server. The Missoula Police Department investigated and determined that the Dropbox account belonged to Balog. Images in Balog’s account included children as young as babies engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A Missoula Police detective executed a search warrant at Balog’s home and spoke with Balog, who admitted he had been “saving” images and videos of child pornography from the internet since 2011. Electronic devices seized from Balog’s home contained thousands of images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missoula Police Department, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and FBI 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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Elmo man sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding Social Security Administration by stealing deceased mother’s benefits; lying to personally receive fundsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal judge today sentenced an Elmo man to three years in prison and ordered $95,722 restitution for stealing his deceased mother’s Social Security benefits and underreporting his income and assets to receive Social Security Administration benefits, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Gerry Alen Albus, 64, pleaded guilty in May to theft of government money and Social Security fraud as indicted.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also ordered three years of supervised release after incarceration. Albus was ordered to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons.
In court documents, the government alleged that in May 2015, Albus was approved to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits from SSA and was advised of his legal obligation to accurately report his income, resources and household composition. In October 2016, Albus reported to SSA that he had moved to Elmo, lived alone and paid rent to his landlord, when in fact, he did not pay rent and his landlord was his romantic partner. In 2017, Albus and his partner converted his partner’s property into a dog grooming business.
The government further alleged that Albus did not disclose his ownership interest in property he co-owned in Florida with his mother or proceeds from the sale of the property in June 2017. Albus’ mother died in March 2017, but SSA continued to send her monthly payments until it learned of her death through this investigation. From March 2017 until November 2021, Albus took his mother’s SSA payments and used them for his personal expenses. Albus also failed to report other assets, including three vehicles, several bank accounts and proceeds from the dog grooming business.
In a May 2022 interview with SSA special agents, Albus admitted he took his mother’s benefits after her death because he felt he was “entitled” to them. SSA determined Albus received approximately $60,627 in SSI benefits for which he was ineligible and stole an additional $59,535 in SSA funds intended for his mother.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The SSA Office of Inspector General and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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Box Elder man admits assaulting woman with knife on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man on Monday admitted to assaulting a woman by cutting her face with a knife during an argument on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Colten Tyrone Small, also known as Colton Swan, 24, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Small faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each 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 Jan. 29, 2025. Small was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, Small punched the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in the face while he held a butcher knife in a residence in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. A witness to the assault told law enforcement that Small sliced Doe’s face in the residence. Small and Doe argued, and the fight got more aggressive. After Small cut Doe’s face, the witness beat up Small. There was some fentanyl and alcohol use occurring at the time. Doe was treated for facial injuries from the knife at Northern Montana Hospital.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement investigated the case.
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Billings man admits arranging for commercial sex with minor girl in undercover investigationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of texting with undercover law enforcement to arrange for sex with a minor girl and showing up at an agreed-upon location admitted to a racketeering crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Christopher Lynn Cliburn, 60, pleaded guilty to use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering as charged in a superseding information. Cliburn 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. Cliburn was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Nov. 16, 2023, law enforcement placed an ad on a website depicting a fictious 14-year-old girl. The ad suggested that the “girl” was willing to engage in sexual conduct for money. On Nov. 19, 2023, a phone number, later connected to Cliburn, responded to the ad. Cliburn and an undercover officer then engaged in a series of text communications in which the parties discussed meeting for commercial sex, potential sexual acts that the “girl” would perform and how much money Cliburn had. On Nov. 20, 2023, Cliburn indicated he was at the agreed-upon location in Billings and confirmed his presence by sending law enforcement a photograph.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI 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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Stevensville timber frame home builder convicted by federal jury of defrauding customers of more than $2 millionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A federal jury convicted a Stevensville timber frame home builder on Sept. 20 of wire fraud and money laundering crimes in an alleged scheme in which he defrauded customers of more than $2 million by obtaining payments to build them homes but instead used the money for personal expenses and to pay other debts, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
After a five-day trial that began on Sept. 16, the jury found the defendant, Brett Mauri, 61, guilty of four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Mauri faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release on the wire fraud counts, and a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction, and three years of supervised release on each count of money laundering.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court set sentencing for Jan. 30, 2025. Mauri’s release was continued pending further proceedings.
“Mauri stole nearly $2 million from people who trusted him to build their dream homes. He consistently lied to them and made excuses about the lack of progress on each project, some of whom didn’t have anything to show despite paying Mauri thousands and thousands of dollars. They didn’t just suffer monetary losses, but mentally and emotionally, too. I hope his forthcoming federal prison sentence gives them comfort knowing he can’t scam anyone else again,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that Mauri is the owner and operator of Bitterroot Timber Frames (BTF) and Three Mile Creek Post & Beam, LLC. According to Mauri and the company’s website, BTF built custom timber frame homes across the United States. Mauri claimed credit for large projects in some of America’s most popular ski towns between the 1990s and 2010s. The government alleged that between 2018 and 2022, Mauri defrauded nine individuals who hired him to build their timber frame homes. Many of the agreements were made by written contract, while some were formed by email or over the phone. Mauri obtained payments from these customers and lied to them about his operations and what he was doing with their money. Mauri ultimately provided little to nothing in return.
The scheme involved Mauri inducing customers to send him funds, which were ultimately deposited into his or his wife’s bank accounts. Mauri, and his wife, Carrie McEnroe, primarily used the money for personal living expenses and to pay other debts instead of building the homes as he promised. What work Mauri did perform on victims’ projects gave his operation the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme. He frequently solicited new money from a victim and used the funds, in part, to cover past expenses that were often incurred on earlier projects. The scheme resulted in victims paying Mauri more than $2 million. In exchange, Mauri provided very little materials or services, and some victims received nothing at all. Victims had hired Mauri to build homes in the Montana communities of Whitehall, Victor, Corvallis and Missoula, and in New York, Utah, and Louisiana.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Helena felon sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for illegally possessing loaded AR-15 rifle on state capitol groundsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Helena felon who admitted to illegally possessing a loaded AR-15 rifle found in his vehicle on the state capitol grounds in Helena was sentenced today to 21 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joshua Nzeyimana, 23, pleaded guilty in April to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Dec. 6, 2023, Nzeyimana, a convicted felon on state supervision, possessed a loaded AR-15 rifle in his vehicle on the state capitol grounds in Helena. The rifle was found during a probation search of the vehicle. The rifle had a round in the chamber and was loaded with a 17-round magazine. Nzeyimana was listed as an absconder in Montana Conweb. During an interview, Nzeyimana acknowledged possessing the rifle. He previously shot the rifle, firing a single round in an open field near Elk Park. Nzeyimana knew he could not legally purchase the rifle himself, so he used another person to buy it. In June 2023, Nzeyimana was convicted and sentenced to a four-year suspended sentence in two state felony cases, one for felony criminal endangerment and one for felony assault with a weapon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, 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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Browning man admits assaulting woman with belt on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of beating and then using a belt to assault a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Briar Joseph Crawford, 29, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Crawford 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 Jan. 29, 2025. Crawford was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 6, 2023, Crawford went to Twin Lakes go fishing with the victim, identified as Jane Doe. They got into an argument, and Crawford began to severely beat Doe over several hours as they traveled from Twin Lakes to the East Glacier Cut Across Road. At one point, Crawford removed his belt, wrapped it around Doe’s neck, grabbed it and lifted her weight off the ground until she blacked out. Doe suffered numerous injuries from the prolonged 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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Federal jury convicts Browning man of distributing fentanyl that resulted in death of man on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal jury on Thursday found a Browning man guilty of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a man in his home on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
After a three-day trial that began on Sept. 17, the jury found the defendant, Douglas Darren Malatare, 59, guilty of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl as charged in an indictment. Malatare faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release on the distribution charge and 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 possession charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court set sentencing for Jan. 22, 2025. Malatare was detained pending further proceedings.
“Fentanyl is our nation’s deadliest illicit drug threat, as it is devastating families and communities. And we are fiercely determined to hold accountable those who are responsible for such devastation, especially when one’s drug trafficking results in another’s death. Malatare poisoned the Blackfeet reservation and made thousands of dollars doing it, including costing the victim his life. I applaud the jury for holding Malatare accountable and am relieved Malatare will no longer be poisoning the streets of Browning and the surrounding area,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on Nov. 19, 2022, the mother of the victim, John Doe, with whom she shared a residence, found him deceased in his bathroom. Doe was 49 years old when he died, and his body showed no obvious signs of cause of death. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Glacier County coroner investigated. In Doe’s bedroom, law enforcement found blue powder and a straw on top of a dresser. Doe’s mother reported that Doe had been at the residence the evening before. That evening, Doe’s friend, Malatare, had visited with Doe outside the residence. Doe and his mother then had dinner, during which she noticed Doe had a hard time staying awake. Doe’s mother found him unresponsive in the bathroom. Forensic testing and an autopsy conducted on Doe’s body showed that he had fentanyl in his blood and urine. Ibuprofen and hydrocodone also were detected in his body. A medical examiner concluded that Doe had died of acute fentanyl intoxication.
The government further alleged that a law enforcement search of Doe’s cell phone found a text exchange between Doe and Malatare the evening Doe overdosed. The exchange included:
Malatare to Doe: “Catch up with you lil bit bro, you looking.”
Doe to Malatare: “Yeah, I’ll be home. Just got off work. I can only afford half if you can stop by.”
An investigation determined that beginning in at least September 2022, an individual named “Doug,” and later identified as Malatare, was bringing fentanyl from Washington to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and that Malatare made several quick trips back and forth to Washington between September and December 2022. On Dec. 17, 2022, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services stopped Malatare for speeding and used a K-9 to conduct a sniff search on the car. The K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Law enforcement seized the car and obtained a search warrant. Officers searched a fanny pack before allowing Malatare to possess it and found a bag of blue and white pills that they suspected contained fentanyl. In a search of the vehicle, officers found a quantity of multi-colored fentanyl pills in the back seat behind a middle armrest. They also recovered a digital scale and multiple rolls of U.S. currency. An analysis determined both the multi-colored pills and blue and white pills contained fentanyl. In total, the Drug Enforcement Administration lab found more than 600 fentanyl pills. A witness told law enforcement that Malatare was bragging that he purchased the pills for $2 per pill in Washington and sold them for $50 to $60 per pill in Montana. The pills seized from Malatare had an estimated street value of more than $30,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office, DEA, and FBI conducted the investigation.
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Butte woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for role in large meth, fentanyl trafficking ringRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Butte woman convicted by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl as part of a large drug ring that had a base Whitehall was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Janet Dean White, 57, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in a jury trial in April.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“White was among eight Montanans and Californians who were convicted in a conspiracy that brought at least 13 pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to the Butte and Helena areas. We will not rest until every drug trafficker is brought to justice, and I’m confident those defendants will end up residing in the same place as White - federal prison,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in Butte and Helena, White and seven other co-defendants conspired to traffic meth and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by “Esco,” who was co-defendant Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, of Anaheim, California. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at Whitehall residence along with at least one co-defendant, James Andrew Stringari, of Whitehall, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. In addition, law enforcement corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, White and another co-defendant.
Fuentes and Stringari also were convicted of conspiracy and possession charges during the April trial. Fuentes was sentenced recently to 30 years in prison, while Stringari is pending sentencing.
The government further alleged that in October 2022, law enforcement stopped a vehicle leaving the Whitehall residence. White was a passenger, and law enforcement found one pound of meth in her purse. In November 2022, law enforcement again stopped White in a vehicle and located three quarters of a pound of meth and more than 100 pills containing fentanyl. White also possessed several cell phones, which contained messages indicative of her drug distribution.
During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted packages containing thousands of pills that were mailed from California to the Whitehall address and to a Butte address. Law enforcement also learned that Fuentes had relocated to a house in Helena.
Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of the Helena and Butte addresses. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
Co-defendants Martin Topete Garcia and his brother, Johnathan Topete, both of Mira Loma, California, pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Co-defendant Trevor Allen Handy, of Butte, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Co-defendant Anthony Wayne Johnson II, of Santa Ana, California, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and co-defendant Agatha Noriz Carranza, of Whitehall, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of the Helena and Butte addresses. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations 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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Billings meth, fentanyl dealer sentenced to 12 years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to obtaining methamphetamine and fentanyl from the dark web for distribution in the Billings community was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Ryan William Newhart, 29, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in May 2023, law enforcement received information that Newhart was distributing meth in the community and getting pound-quantities through the mail. In June 2023, officers obtained a search warrant for Newhart’s residence and seized 427 grams, or almost one pound, of meth and more than 40 grams of fentanyl pills. Newhart admitted to selling approximately 10 pounds of meth from September 2022 to June 2023 and that he obtained the drugs through the dark web for distribution in the community. Ten pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 36,240 doses.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection 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’s Office to Work with Local Partners to Reduce Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.
In the District of Montana, Gallatin County and Bozeman have been designated.
“Domestic gun violence not only leads to tragedy within families, but it also ripples through our communities. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their homes and communities. Reducing intimate partner firearm violence and getting dangerous offenders off the street are top priorities for our office. By continuing our commitment to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, and community stakeholders, we are making sure that persons who are prohibited under federal law from having guns are prosecuted and held accountable,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Domestic abuse was once considered a private matter to be suffered alone in the shadows,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “VAWA has steadily shone a light on this issue, resulting in significant decreases in domestic violence over the past few decades. We recognize firearms are often used by abusers to carry out acts of domestic violence. To combat this, we encourage our law enforcement partners to seek all available federal funds so we may continue to disrupt this violence and strengthen our support of all victims.”
"As the County Attorney in Gallatin County, I witness firsthand the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and communities,” said Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell. “Gallatin County's designation as a VAWA jurisdiction and partnership with the US Attorney's Office marks a crucial advancement in our fight against domestic violence. By collaborating at both local and federal levels, we enhance our capability to tackle the complexities of these cases, especially those involving gun violence. Our joint efforts are not only aimed at reducing domestic violence and preventing homicides but also at providing robust support to survivors, ensuring they have the resources and protection necessary to rebuild and thrive. This initiative underscores our commitment to a safer, more just community."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana is working with law enforcement to reduce gun violence through coordinated, multi-agency investigations through the federal initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods, to ensure that persons who violate federal firearms law are charged, convicted and sentenced to federal prison, where there is no parole.
Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
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U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announces $3.5 million in Justice Department grants to aid crime victimsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich today announced grant funding of more than $3.5 million for Montana from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to support crime victims. The funding, totaling $3,657,090, is for two programs.
“Obtaining justice requires both accountability of the offender and support for crime victims. This funding demonstrates the Justice Department’s continuing commitment to ensuring that crime victims have access to assistance and compensation programs they need and deserve,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The Montana Board of Crime Control will receive $3,017,090 from the Office for Victims of Crime. The funds are from the Fiscal Year 2024 Victim Assistant Formula Grant through the Victims of Crime Act. The MBCC will provides funds from the Crime Victims Fund to enhance crime victim services in the state. These assistance funds are typically competitively awarded by the state to local community-based organizations that provide direct services to crime victims. The project period began Oct. 1, 2023 and will end Sept. 30, 2027. MBCC is a quasi-judicial board appointed by the governor to promote public safety.
The Montana Department of Justice will receive $640,000 from the Office for Victims of Crime. The funds are from the Fiscal Year 2024 Victim Compensation Formula Grant through the Victims of Crime Act. The grant provides funds from the Crime Victims Fund to enhance State Victim Compensation payments to eligible crime victims. The Victims of Crime Act compensation funds provide financial assistance to Federal and State victims of crime. The project period began Oct. 1, 2023 and will end Sept. 30, 2027.
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Lame Deer woman admits to trafficking methRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lame Deer woman admitted today to selling methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Emma Jewell King, 62, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. King faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least 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. King was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that between December 2020 and January 2021, law enforcement learned that King was selling meth on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. A source told law enforcement that he or she started purchasing meth from King in early 2019 and would purchase three to four grams per week from her. King’s source of meth was from a home in Lodge Grass and from Washington. In March 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of meth from King from King’s house. King told law enforcement in January 2024 that she was a drug dealer and had purchased one ounce of meth every week beginning in about July 2021 through March 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration 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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Billings woman sentenced to 15 years in prison for trafficking meth directly from Mexico to MontanaRead the Press Release
BILLINGS —A Billings woman convicted at trial by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine by using her U.S. passport to bring the drug across the Mexico border and into California for mailing to Montana for distribution was sentenced on Sept. 13 to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Dawn Marie Guevara, 44, who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, was found guilty in a March trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Waters presided.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that Guevara conspired with others to distribute pounds of meth in the Billings community from about July 2018 to December 2018. Law enforcement learned that Guevara, who was living in Mexico, was selling meth to an individual through social media orders and arranging to have another person in Billings receive the meth and complete the transaction. While living in Mexico, Guevara recruited her niece, Ashley Chesmore, to deliver the drugs. Chesmore was prosecuted in 2019 and sentenced to four years in federal prison for her role in the case.
Investigators determined that Guevara would obtain meth in Mexico, cross into the United States using her U.S. passport and mail the meth from a post office in San Ysidro. Money collected from sales was wired to Guevara in Mexico. Border crossing information determined that Guevara entered the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry approximately 20 times between July 7, 2018 and Oct. 18, 2018. After her indictment in 2019, Guevara did not cross the border a single time between 2019 and 2023. Guevara was arrested in 2023 in the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Postal Service 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.
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Assault on two women on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation sends Fort Belknap man to prison for more than four yearsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Fort Belknap man who admitted to firing a pistol at two women in a housing area on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to four years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Gilbert Raymond Martinez, 33, of Fort Belknap and Parshall, North Dakota, pleaded guilty in May to assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on May 17, 2021, Martinez fired a 9mm pistol at two women in the Newtown Housing area of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The second woman told the responding officer that if she had not moved out of the way, the bullet would have hit her. After Martinez threw one woman to the ground, kicked her in the ribs and discharged a firearm at her, he discharged the firearm at a second woman, who was attempting to help the first assault victim.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Police Department and Blaine County Sheriff’s Office 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 Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 11 was:
Airian Mariah Russette, 30, of Havre and Box Elder, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and use of a firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Russette faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the false statement charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of use of firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Russette was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement, Havre Police Department, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-46.
Appearing on Sept. 10 was:
Tommy Michael VanHoose, 66, of Great Falls, on charges of submitting a false tax return. If convicted of the most serious crime, VanHoose faces a maximum of three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. VanHoose was released pending further proceedings. The IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-60.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Sept. 12 was:
Bradley James Turcotte, 35, of Ronan, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Turcotte faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. Turcotte was detained pending further proceedings. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-11.
Appearing on Sept. 11 was:
Damien Michael Duffey, 31, of Butte, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Duffey faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Duffey was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Butte-Silver Bow Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-26.
Cheryl Ester Eslami, 44, of Kalispell, on charges of conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Eslami faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Eslami was detained pending further proceedings. PACER case reference. 24-47.
Appearing for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint on Sept. 11 was:
Joey Lee Forward, 34, of Missoula, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Forward faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Forward was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-55.
Appearing on Sept. 5 was:
Taylor Gale Penny, 35, of Missoula, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Penny faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. Penny was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-51.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Sept. 3 was:
Dalton David Murray, 26, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Murray faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. Murray was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-123.
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 meth, fentanyl, heroin trafficker sentenced to five years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin after the drugs were found in his car was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Sheldon Patrick Tracy, 55, pleaded guilty in February to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2022, Tracy came to the attention of law enforcement as a drug distributor in the Billings area. On Aug. 17, 2022, law enforcement stopped a truck that Tracy was driving. Tracy was on state probation and a probation officer authorized a search of Tracy and the vehicle. Tracy had almost $8,467 in his front pocket and a small bag of heroin. After getting a search warrant for the truck, officers located approximately two ounces of meth in a quart baggie and 48 fentanyl pills. Tracy admitted he possessed all the drugs in the vehicle and intended to sell them.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Yellowstone 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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Assault with steel-toe boots on Crow Indian Reservation sends man to prison for more than three yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Crow Agency man who admitted to punching another man in the face and then kicking him with steel-toe boots in a residence in Wyola, on the Crow Indian Reservation, was sentenced today to three years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Jordale Thomas Redwolf, 36, pleaded guilty in May to assault with a dangerous weapon.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Dec. 8, 2023, Redwolf and the victim, identified as John Doe, were drinking alcohol at a house in Wyola, on the Crow Indian Reservation. Doe reported that for no apparent reason, Redwolf repeatedly punched him in the face. When Doe fell to the floor, Redwolf kicked him in the face and torso with boots. Doe was treated at the Crow Indian Health Service Hospital for injuries. In an interview the next day, Redwolf admitted he beat up Doe because both were drunk, and Doe was “mouthing off” because Redwolf had just been released from prison. Redwolf kicked Doe with his prison-issued boots. Law enforcement seized steel-toe boots that had blood on them from Redwolf’s home.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.
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Livingston fentanyl trafficker sentenced to more than six years in prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Livingston man who admitted to traveling to Washington to get fentanyl pills for distribution in the Park County community and violating release conditions was sentenced today to a total of six years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, David Scott Retzer, 42, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The court also sentenced Retzer to 10 months in prison in a revocation hearing after finding Retzer violated conditions of release in a previous drug case. The sentence in the revocation is to run consecutive to a 71-month sentence in the fentanyl case, for total of 81 months in prison.
The government alleged in court documents that in June 2022, law enforcement began receiving information that Retzer was involved in distributing fentanyl pills and later that year began tracking Retzer as he traveled to Washington from Montana. In December 2022, law enforcement pulled over Retzer’s vehicle as it entered Park County and searched it pursuant to a warrant. Retzer had a fake battery in his possession that contained 70 fentanyl pills. Additional bags of fentanyl pills were also located in the vehicle. An individual who traveled with Retzer told law enforcement that they had gone to Washington to get fentanyl and had bought 950 pills but had been shorted by the source. In a search of Retzer’s cell phone, law enforcement located numerous conversations in which Retzer discussed distributing fentanyl. At the time of the offense, Retzer was on supervision for a federal drug trafficking offense involving heroin.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
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Federal judge finds Billings man guilty of multiple sexual assault and child molestation crimes, attempted sex trafficking, child pornography and other offenses spanning approximately 30 years on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and in BillingsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A federal district judge today found a Billings man, formerly of Hays, guilty of multiple crimes involving the sexual assault and molestation of children, attempted sex trafficking, child pornography and other crimes dating back approximately 30 years on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and in Billings, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
After a three-day bench trial that began on Sept. 9, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris found the defendant, James Kirby King, 58, guilty on 17 counts in a 25-count superseding indictment that alleged various sexual assault child molestation crimes against six separate victims. The court found King not guilty on eight counts.
“The years-long horror of sexual abuse and trauma King inflicted on his victims, most of whom were children when he started his assaults, is unimaginable. King unconscionably sought out vulnerable children for exploitation to satisfy his own desires and caused a lifetime of pain for them. May these verdicts serve as a measure of justice for them. Protecting children from predators like King is our office’s highest priority, and I am deeply grateful to our prosecution team, the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement, and Great Falls Police Department for their extraordinary work on this awful case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that King was a prolific sex offender who preyed on the most vulnerable and marginalized Native Americans in Montana for decades by molesting, sexually assaulting, drugging, trafficking and exploiting any defenseless person without regard to their sex, age or biological relationship. During trial, the government presented evidence that led to convictions for offenses against victims identified as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, Jane Doe 4, Jane Doe 10 and other multiple victims. Some of the victims were under the age of 12 at the time, some were under the age of 16 and some were adults. Most of the conduct occurred on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where King lived, and in Billings, where King lived more recently. The charged conduct began as early as approximately 1992 and continued until his arrest in 2023.
As alleged in court documents, for more than a decade, King repeatedly molested, drugged, assaulted and sexually exploited Jane Doe 1, whose first memory of the molestation was when she was five years old in 1996. In approximately 1994 or 1995, when Jane Doe 2 was 14 years old, King gave her a small amount of alcohol at his residence and she “went blank.” Jane Doe 2 later awoke and became aware of King kneeling between her legs and taking pictures of her naked vaginal area. In addition, King attempted to sexually exploit Jane Doe 3 on numerous occasions and forced numerous sex acts on her both as a child and later as an adult on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Billings. King drugged and raped Jane Doe 4 on the Fort Belknap Reservation when she was in her 20s and he was in his 40s. And King attempted to sex traffic by coercion Jane Doe 10 in October 2023.
The court found King guilty of:
- Aggravated sexual abuse of a child, one count
- Incest, two counts
- Sexual exploitation of children, three counts
- Aggravated sexual abuse by rendering unconscious or drugging the victim, two counts
- Sexual abuse, two counts
- Attempted aggravated sexual abuse by rendering unconscious or drugging the victim, one count
- Attempted sexual abuse, one count
- Sexual abuse of a minor, one count
- Aggravated sexual abuse by force, one count
- Attempted possession with the intent to sell child pornography in Indian Country, one count
- Possession of child pornography in Indian Country, one count
- Attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, one count
King faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release, along with a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison for the crimes of sexual exploitation of children and attempted sex trafficking by coercion.
The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 15, 2025. King remained detained pending further proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement and Great Falls Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Kalispell couple admit defrauding Social Security AdministrationRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Kalispell couple today admitted to stealing nearly $200,000 from the Social Security Administration by falsely reporting their living and financial situation so they could receive more benefits on behalf of their children than they were entitled, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendants, Mistie Lynn Knapton, 49, and her husband, Travis Ray Knapton, 50, each pleaded guilty to theft of government money in separate hearings. Mistie Knapton pleaded to a felony charge and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three yeas of supervised release. Travis Knapton pleaded to a misdemeanor charge and faces a maximum of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing for both defendants was set for Jan. 9, 2025. The defendants were released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that the Knaptons received benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) on behalf of five of their children through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The program is meant to provide monthly payments to people with disabilities who have little to no income or resources. The SSI program has income and asset limits, either of which could make a beneficiary ineligible for benefits.
The government further alleged that Mistie was the representative payee for her children enrolled in SSI. In May 2009, Mistie wrote to SSA that Travis no longer lived with her and her children. Mistie frequently reported to SSA that she and the children paid rent for their housing, that Travis was not a member of the household and that their only income was child support Travis paid to Mistie. However, from 2009 to present, Travis owned the houses that Mistie and the children lived in, he frequently lived with them, and he paid for vehicles, food and other living expenses for the family from his income. In addition to the houses, Travis owned several cars, trucks, ATVs, a motorcycle and a jet ski.
In September 2020, SSA conducted a redetermination of benefits for one of the children. The agency determined that Mistie failed to list Travis as a member of the household and told SSA that she paid rent of $1,400 a month. Mistie also confirmed that “no one in the household was a parent or child of either the landlord or his/her spouse.” In truth, Mistie and Travis jointly owned the house, and Travis was part of the household at that time. SSA analyzed the Knapton’s assets and determined that from April 2011 through February 2024, the Knapton children would not have qualified for SSI benefits had SSA known the truth abut the Knapton’s living and financial situation. SSA calculated that the Knapton children received $196,575 in SSI benefits they were not actually eligible to receive. The SSI income was paid into separate bank accounts for each child. Mistie frequently shared and transferred this money, stolen from the United States, into Travis’ bank account. Travis then used the stolen money to purchase homes and vehicles, pay for general living expenses and other items for himself and his family.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The SSA Office of Inspector General and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
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Washington man sentenced to more than six years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl; illegal possession of firearm in Havre areaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Washington man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl pills in the Havre area and to illegally possessing a gun was sentenced on Tuesday to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Travis Lee Brown, 42, of Yakima, Washington, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2022, Brown worked as a meth and fentanyl distributor who was selling drugs from a hotel in Havre and sending proceeds back to Mexico. In October 2022, law enforcement saw Brown load a bag into the trunk of a car in which he was a passenger. After a traffic stop, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a bag that contained 1,275 fentanyl pills, a small amount of meth and a 9mm pistol that Brown was seen holding in photographs. At the time of sentencing, Brown had been convicted of illegally possessing a firearm or being a felon in possession of a firearm five times since 2006.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Tri-Agency Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration 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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Browning man admits abusive sexual contact with girl, sending nude images of self to minor girlsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS —A Browning man accused of having sexual contact with a girl on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and to sending nude images of himself to minor girls using social media admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Treston Lane Kickingwoman, 28, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact and to two counts of transfer of obscene material to a minor. Kickingwoman faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the abusive sexual contact charge and a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the transfer of obscene materials 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 Jan. 15, 2025. Kickingwoman was detained pending further proceedings.
In a plea agreement filed in the case, the parties agreed that a sentence of between 10 years and 15 years in prison is appropriate.
In court documents, the government alleged that in 2022, a victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, disclosed to law enforcement that when she was about six years old, Kickingwoman sexually abused her one time while she was staying at a house in Browning. Kickingwoman lay down on the bed by Doe 1 and began touching her legs and back. Doe 1 cried and told Kickingwoman that she was going to tell. Kickingwoman responded to the effect that if she did, he would hurt her. Doe 1 further described Kickingwoman touching her inside her underwear and vagina. He stopped when another person started moving in the room.
The government also alleged that in March 2023, an FBI undercover employee with a fictitious persona as a juvenile girl began communicating with Kickingwoman on Facebook. Kickingwoman sent the undercover explicit pictures of his penis and solicited sexually explicit pictures from the undercover. During a search of Kickingwoman’s Facebook account, law enforcement discovered Kickingwoman had sent picture of his nude genitalia to dozens of separate Facebook accounts. Two of the Facebook accounts were for juvenile girls, Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3, who were living on the Blackfeet Reservation. Both Doe 2 and 3 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 Kickingwoman they were 13. Kickingwoman sent both girls pictures of his nude genitalia and solicited sexually explicit pictures from them. Doe 2 provided the requested photographs to Kickingwoman through his Facebook account.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services 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.
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Thompson Falls man admits illegal possession of firearms, shortened rifleRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Thompson Falls man with two prior federal felony convictions today admitted to illegally possessing a firearm and to possessing a shortened rifle after law enforcement found numerous guns at his residence, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, James Vernon Day, Jr., 55, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of an unregistered firearm. Day faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 3, 2025. Day was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Day previously had been convicted in Montana of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and of illegal sale of outfitted mountain lion hunts and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The government further alleged that in December 2023, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Day’s property to serve a search warrant for solen vehicle parts. Day was present on the property and 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 uncooperative with law enforcement’s request to exit his residence and speak with them.
During the search, deputies located a .44-caliber rifle in a shop building, a building to which they determined Day had primary access. The shop also contained 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 was determined to have 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 is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Sanders 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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California drug dealer sentenced to 30 years in prison for meth, fentanyl trafficking in Butte, Helena communitiesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A California man convicted by a federal jury of trafficking pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills in the Butte and Helena communities as part of a large conspiracy was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
After a four-day trial in April, a jury found the defendant, Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, 36, of Anaheim, California, guilty of conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“Fuentes thought he could use his California connections to set up a drug trafficking ring to profit at the expense and misery of Montanans to whom he peddled meth and fentanyl pills. He was wrong. Fuentes, and all of those charged in this conspiracy, stand convicted of drug trafficking crimes, and can no longer poison our communities. These convictions would not have happened without the extraordinary collaboration and diligence of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, for which I am grateful,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in the Butte and Helena areas, Fuentes, along with seven other co-defendants, conspired to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by “Esco,” who was Fuentes. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at a house in Whitehall along with at least one co-defendant, James Andrew Stringari, of Whitehall, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. In addition, law enforcement inspected a source’s cell phone and corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, co-defendant Janet Dean White, of Butte, and another co-defendant. Stringari and White were convicted at trial with Fuentes and are pending sentencing.
Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of addresses in Helena and Butte. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl.
The government further alleged that Fuentes was one of the main organizers and suppliers of the criminal conspiracy, which trafficked pounds of meth and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills over approximately six months.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations 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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Browning man admits fentanyl traffickingRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man admitted today to trafficking fentanyl pills on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation after officers attempting to arrest him found blue pills scattered around the bedroom floor, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Rayne Forrest Rivers Charette, 41, appeared for arraignment on and pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Charette faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least 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 Jan. 8, 2025. Charette was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in March 2023, the Blackfeet Tribe issued an arrest warrant for Charette because he was wanted in Yellowstone County on a state drug charge. The Tribe adopted the state warrant and issued a tribal warrant. During the execution of the warrant at a residence where Charette was known to be living, officers observed Charette attempting to leap out of a bedroom window. During the arrest, officer observed blue pills, believed to be fentanyl, scattered around the floor of the bedroom. After getting a search warrant, officers collected more than 500 fentanyl pills, more than $1,000 cash and drug paraphernalia in the room where Charette was arrested. Law enforcement also interviewed several informants who stated they had obtained fentanyl from Charette.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service and the FBI conducted the investigation.
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Meth trafficking sends Billings man to prison for 10 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community after law enforcement found meth and more than $4,000 in his residence was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Loren Dean Raver, 59, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in February, the Billings Police Department Street Crimes Unit was attempting to locate Raver on an outstanding arrest warrant. Officers were aware that Raver was on state probation and began surveilling his residence. On Feb. 26, a detective made a traffic stop of a vehicle after seeing a woman and Raver leave the residence and drive away in the car. Officers arrested Raver on his outstanding warrant. Officers, along with state probation officers, searched Raver’s residence and located a large quantity of meth inside a box of Mountain Dew that was on a coffee table. Officers also found $4,396 in currency, plastic baggies and digital scales. The meth was determined to be approximately 283 grams, which is a little more than a half pound, of pure meth. At the time, Raver was on state probation for several previous felony convictions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 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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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 Aug. 29 was:
Thomas Larson Medicine Horse, III, 19, of Pryor, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse, strangulation and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medicine Horse faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Medicine Horse was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-118.
Appearing on Aug. 20 was:
Ashley Firebear Garner, 41, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garner faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Garner was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and Bozeman Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-68.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Aug. 30 was:
Joseph Christopher Steele, 24, of Kalispell, on charges of possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Steele faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Steele was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Whitefish Police Department and Kalispell Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-43.
Appearing on Aug. 28 was:
Edward Arthur Nurse, 34, of Missoula, on charges of theft from credit union. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nurse faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Nurse was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-42.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Aug. 27 was:
Scott Austin McTaggart, 37, of Helena, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, McTaggart faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. McTaggart was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol and Helena Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-15.
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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Wolf Point woman sentenced to prison for meth trafficking on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman who admitted to selling methamphetamine on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced on Aug. 26 to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Talayne Killeen Demarrias, 31, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Demarrias worked as an intermediary for a meth distributor in Wolf Point. Between January and March of 2023, Demarrias was distributing meth, and on Feb. 7, 2023, a confidential source purchased approximately 76 grams of meth from Demarrias in a monitored purchase.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Valley County Sheriff’s Office and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Strangulation assault on Blackfeet Indian Reservation sends Browning man to prison for more than three yearsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted strangling his dating partner on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, despite a no-contact order, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Alphonse Trevon Bird IV, 20, pleaded guilty in March to assault of a dating partner by strangulation and suffocation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that Bird and the victim, Jane Doe, were in a dating relationship. On Dec. 27, 2023, Bird, Doe and two others were in a vehicle when Bird and Doe got into an argument and pulled over to the side of the road. Doe got out of the vehicle and Bird tried to pull her back. Doe tried to run away, but Bird chased her down, got on top of her stomach and put her in a chokehold. Bird assaulted and strangled Doe. At the time of the assault, Bird had been ordered by a court to have no contact with Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case.
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Poplar man admits stealing truck after stabbing driver on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man accused of carjacking a truck and stabbing the driver on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to a robbery crime on Aug. 26, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Brandon Lee Romero, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery. Romero faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
A plea agreement filed in the case calls for other counts of carjacking, transportation of a stolen vehicle and assault with a dangerous weapon to be dismissed at sentencing if the court accepts the agreement.
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 Jan. 5, 2025. Romero was detained pending further proceedings.
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. Scared that Romero was going to run him over, John Doe hid behind a power pole. Romero was eventually arrested later that day by North Dakota law enforcement after Romero got into a high-speed chase in the truck he took from John Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting 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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Billings woman sentenced to more than seven years in prison for armed carjackingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS —A Billings woman who admitted carjacking a vehicle while armed was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Talena Florence Boyiddle, 20, pleaded guilty in May to carjacking and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 23, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe 1, reported to the Billings Police Department that he had been carjacked. The victim told law enforcement that he had met a woman he knew as “Nicole” online and that at 1 a.m. on Jan. 23, 2023, she arranged for him to pick her up. When the victim arrived, the woman got into the front seat and two unknown males got into the back seat. The three individuals instructed the victim to drive to an alley behind a laundromat. There, the woman pulled out a Glock pistol, racked it twice and pointed it at John Doe 1. All three individuals made statements that they intended to rob the victim. The victim got out of the car and ran away, and the three individuals took his car, a 2003 Honda Civic. An officer found the car with switched plates later the same day and had it towed. A few days after the car was returned to the victim, it was stolen again. In February 2023, police found Boyiddle in the victim’s car and in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun. Investigators determined through a Facebook photo that “Nicole” was Boyiddle. The government further alleged that Boyiddle and her associates were able to steal the car a second time by using keys they had obtained from the carjacking.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted 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.
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Attempted sex trafficking of minor girl, violation of a release condition send Billings man to prison for more than 23 yearsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to a sex trafficking crime after he was accused of offering to provide a minor girl alcohol in exchange for sex and to violating a release condition in a separate case was sentenced today to a total of 23 years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Joshua Allen Morgan, 40, pleaded guilty in May to attempted sex trafficking of a minor. In a separate case, Morgan also admitted to violating a condition of supervised release for a separate 2012 conviction for receipt of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court sentenced Morgan to 21 years and 10 months in prison for the attempted sex trafficking conviction and to a consecutive two years in prison for violating a release condition in the child pornography case.
In the case involving attempted sex trafficking of a minor, the government alleged in court documents that in March 2023, law enforcement was conducting an undercover online investigation in the Billings area targeting individuals with a sexual interest in children. Morgan responded to and agreed to meet a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Morgan was arrested and law enforcement served a search warrant on his phone. Law enforcement found Facebook communications between Morgan and a juvenile girl, identified as Jane Doe. In an interview with law enforcement, Doe disclosed that she had met Morgan when she was 15 or 16 after he began sending her messages on Facebook. Morgan provided Doe with alcohol, and they spent time together. During this period, Moran sexually assaulted Doe at his residence. In March 2023, Morgan and Doe began corresponding again and discussions involved Morgan providing Doe with alcohol in exchange for sexual conduct. Doe informed Morgan she was a juvenile, and Morgan instructed her not to disclose their relationship to anyone. Doe and Morgan did meet, but Doe left prior to engaging in sexual conduct with Morgan.
At the same time Morgan was attempting to traffic Jane Doe, he also was attempting to groom other minor girls. He asked two girls to travel to Laurel with him one night and purchased alcohol for them. On another occasion, Morgan informed one of those girls that he could provide her with methamphetamine. Morgan made a habit of informing these children that he did not want to know their age. The girls were 15 and 16 years old.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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Federal judge convicts Great Falls woman for 2021 crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation that resulted in serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A U.S. District Court judge on Aug. 27 convicted a Great Falls woman for a December 2021 crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation that resulted in serious bodily injuries to a juvenile passenger, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
After a one-day bench trial on Aug. 27, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris found the defendant, Noblee Rose Littledog, 23, of Great Falls, guilty of assault resulting in serious bodily injury as charged in an indictment. Littledog faces a maximum of ten 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. The court set sentencing for Jan. 9, 2025, and continued Littledog’s release pending further proceedings.
“Reckless driving often ends tragically, but driving recklessly while also consuming alcohol almost always guarantees someone will be severely injured, which is exactly what happened here. Our office, as well as the victim’s family, are relieved and thankful for the guilty verdict because accountability will now rightfully occur for Littledog. I applaud and thank the entire Blackfeet prosecution team, including Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, the Montana Highway Patrol, and the FBI for their outstanding work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on Dec. 1, 2021, Littledog was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation with the victim, a passenger identified as Jane Doe, who was 17 years old. While driving on a secondary highway between BIA Route 1 and U.S. Highway 89, Littledog passed two vehicles at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone. Littledog failed to negotiate the corner, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, rolling approximately five times. The vehicle was destroyed and both occupants were injured. Jane Doe was pinned in the passenger seat. Emergency responders had to cut Jane Doe from the car before they could triage her injures. Jane Doe suffered severe trauma to her lower extremities that has caused permanent damage.
Law enforcement seized the vehicle’s event data recorder and analyzed the data. At trial, the government presented evidence that the data captured by the vehicle showed that seconds before the crash, Littledog was traveling at a minimum speed of 105.6 mph. The data also showed that both occupants were restrained at the time of the crash. Jane Doe reported that Littledog had consumed alcohol on the drive, and Littledog told law enforcement at the hospital that she had consumed two alcoholic beverages approximately 30 to 40 minutes before the crash. Evidence at the scene of the crash matched her description of the alcohol she reported consuming.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Montana Highway Patrol and the FBI conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Cut Bank Police Department.
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California man sentenced to 20 years in prison for armed fentanyl trafficking in Butte, Helena communitiesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A California man who admitted to mailing thousands of fentanyl pills to co-conspirators in the Butte area for redistribution and to possessing a firearm as part of a large trafficking operation was sentenced on Aug. 27 to 20 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Anthony Wayne Johnson, II, 47, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Johnson II was part of a large conspiracy that brought fentanyl and methamphetamine to the Butte and Helena communities. The drug trafficking organization would transport meth from California to Montana by using co-conspirators to drive large amounts of meth between the states. The investigation also determined that the organization mailed packages of fentanyl pills from California to Montana. The government further alleged that in November 2022, Johnson II mailed three packages to co-conspirators in Butte for distribution. Two of the packages were intercepted by law enforcement in Montana and were found to contain approximately 9,000 fentanyl pills. The third package was delivered to one of the heads of the conspiracy, and a co-conspirator who was present when the package was opened, observed that it contained approximately 8,000 fentanyl pills. In January 2023, law enforcement arrested Johnson II at a hotel in Butte. In his hotel room, law enforcement found a firearm under the mattress as well as fentanyl on Johnson II’s person. Johnson II admitted his DNA would be on the firearm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Missouri River Drug Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Montana Highway Patrol 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 $10.8 million civil settlement with St. Peter’s Health over False Claims Act misconductRead the Press Release
HELENA — U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich, today announced a settlement agreement between the federal government and St. Peter’s Health, in Helena, in which St. Peter’s will pay $10,844,201 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payments to federal health care programs for services performed by an oncology doctor.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich announced the settlement agreement today during a press conference at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Paul G. Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Helena.
“One of the purposes of the False Claims Act is to protect the American taxpayer from paying for false claims submitted by health care providers to federal health care programs. We take these allegations seriously, which is why I am pleased we obtained this settlement agreement that returns almost $11 million to the United States. Our health care providers simply must submit accurate claims when billing these taxpayer-supported federal health care programs for services. This settlement would not have been possible without the cooperation of St. Peter’s Health, who voluntarily disclosed the misconduct and cooperated with federal investigators to identify the problem and amount of false billing,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“Today’s settlement highlights our unwavering commitment to enforcing the False Claims Act and upholding the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “St. Peter’s submission of false claims and its associated compensation practices violated both legal and ethical standards. We will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners to hold entities accountable, prevent similar violations, and safeguard public funds.”
“VA’s Community Care programs provide veterans and their families critical healthcare services from providers within their own communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov, of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “This civil settlement reinforces the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of VA’s healthcare programs and operations and preserving taxpayer funds.”
The settlement agreement, signed on August 26, 2024, is among the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, on behalf of the Medicare and Medicaid programs; the Defense Health Agency, on behalf of the TRICARE program; the Office of Personnel Management, which administers the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); the Office of Inspector General of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and St. Peter’s Health.
Under the terms and conditions of the settlement agreement, St. Peter’s is to pay $10,844,201 no later than 30 days after the effective date of the agreement.
The settlement agreement contends that St. Peter’s violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payments to federal health care programs relating to services performed and referred by Dr. Thomas Weiner, an oncologist employed at its cancer treatment center. The government alleged that between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2020, St. Peter’s, relying on Dr. Weiner’s documentation and certification, submitted claims which were determined to be false. St. Peter’s knew, or should have known, that Dr. Weiner submitted claims for office visits that were coded at a higher level of service than was actually performed or did not meet the requirements of a significant, separately identifiable service when performed on the same day as administration of chemotherapy. Further, St. Peter’s, relying on Dr. Weiner’s documentation and certification, compensated Dr. Weiner with a salary that was based on the false claims, and therefore, caused his salary to be inconsistent with fair market value.
The settlement agreement credits St. Peter’s for voluntarily self-disclosing the misconduct. St. Peter’s also performed and disclosed the results of an internal investigation; disclosed documents beyond existing business practices or legal requirements; identified individuals who were aware of relevant information or conduct; made officers and employees available for interviews; assisted in determining the losses caused by the misconduct; and has enhanced its corporate compliance program.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s handled the matter. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General provided investigative support.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Attachment
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Lodge Grass man admits sexually abusing child on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man accused of sexually abusing a child on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Marty Edward Plenty Hawk, 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact of a child as charged in an indictment. Plenty Hawk faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release on each crime.
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. Plenty Hawk was detained pending further proceedings.
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 caused the victim to engage in sexual conduct. On May 2, 2023, law enforcement arrested Plenty Hawk after a domestic disturbance at his residence. While in custody, Plenty Hawk notified jail staff that he wanted to write a confession and wrote 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 the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Plenty Hawk again admitted to having a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1 and having sexual intercourse with the victim multiple times.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Billings man admits trafficking fentanyl, assaulting federal law enforcement officerRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of trafficking fentanyl pills in the community and ramming an occupied U.S. Marshals Service vehicle during his arrest admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Luke Michael Dovel, 29, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to assault on a federal officer. Dovel 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 maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge.
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. Dovel was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in August and September of 2023, law enforcement learned that Dovel was selling large quantities of fentanyl and that there was a warrant for his arrest because he had absconded while on state probation. On Sept. 18, 2023, multiple law enforcement agencies surveilled Dovel’s suspected location, and when Dovel arrived, law enforcement used their vehicles to block Dovel’s vehicle. Dovel then rammed the law enforcement vehicles several times, attempting to flee. Dovel hit a U.S. Marshals Service’s vehicle that was occupied by a deputy multiple times. The deputy and other officers were not injured but their vehicles were damaged. Dovel was instructed to exit his vehicle and did so without incident. In a search of Dovel, officers found him to be in possession of fentanyl pills, more than $8,000 in U.S. currency, a knife and metal knuckles. In a search of his vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and a loaded handgun magazine and ammunition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. 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 business owner admits tampering with pollution-monitoring devices for diesel trucks in violation of Clean Air ActRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings business owner accused of developing and selling software devices and kits to circumvent emissions monitoring systems for at least 845 diesel trucks admitted today to violating the Clean Air Act, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Thomas James Nash, 37, appeared for arraignment on an information and pleaded guilty to tampering with Clean Air Act monitoring device. Nash faces a maximum of two 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. Nash was released pending further proceedings.
In a plea agreement filed in the case, the parties agree that a term of probation and a $250,000 fine is appropriate.
The government alleged in court documents that from 2019 until April 2021, Nash, through his businesses, DRK and Flash Performance, tampered with Clean Air Act monitoring devices by developing, marketing and selling software known as “tunes” that, when downloaded onto a vehicle’s computer, would override and disable the on-board diagnostic system so that it would no longer detect malfunctions in the emissions control system. Nash loaded his tunes onto a device known as a “tuner” that would plug into a vehicle’s on-board diagnostic port, establishing a connection so that the tune could be downloaded.
Nash also packaged the tuners with devices, such as “straight pipes,” which are used to disable the emissions control hardware. Nash sold these packages as DRK “delete kits” over the internet on eBay. Nash specifically marketed these “delete kits” as a way to circumvent the emissions control system in diesel trucks and customers purchased them with that intention. When the hardware devices and “tunes” were installed, a truck’s on-board diagnostic system was rendered ineffective, causing the truck to greatly exceed emission standards established under the Clean Air Act and release significantly more pollution. The pollutants include nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons and particulate matter, which degrade air quality and pose a significant risk to public health. Further, Nash provided ongoing technical assistance to customers who purchased the kits to ensure they were able to effectively circumvent the emissions monitoring system. Nash successfully tampered with at least 845 trucks.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted the investigation.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office recovers approximately $700,000 for victims of Kalispell fraudsterRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently recovered approximately $700,000 for victims of a Kalispell man who defrauded investors in a multi-million-dollar scheme involving oil and gas leases and artwork, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, John Kevin Moore, also known and Kevin Moore, of Kalispell, was convicted in August 2018 by a federal jury of 21 counts of wire fraud, money laundering and false statement crimes and sentenced in 2019 to more than 10 years in prison, ordered to pay more than $2.2 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $1.9 million.
“In addition to obtaining a federal prison sentence, the collection of restitution for victims of fraud is essential in the pursuit of justice, although it is often difficult to obtain restitution because the fraudster usually spends all the money. Here, however, through the extraordinary dedication and hard work of our financial litigation team, we were able to track down and recover a significant amount of money for victims of Moore’s fraud and prevent Moore from benefiting from the sale of a ranch in which he had invested,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In seeking to collect restitution, the U.S. Attorney’s financial litigation division asserted its restitution lien against Moore’s interest in a ranch in Valley County held by Moore’s now-dissolved business, Milk River Hunting Preserve, LLC. Through a civil settlement reached in U.S. District Court in July, the government secured approximately $700,000 in restitution for the victims in Moore’s criminal case from the proceeds of the sale of the ranch.
At Moore’s criminal trial, the government presented evidence that Moore set up two companies, Big Sky Mineral Resources LLC and Glacier Gala, and used them to solicit money from investors by purporting to buy oil and gas leases and to buy and sell lucrative artwork. Instead, prosecutors alleged, Moore used investors’ money to pay off earlier investors and to pay for personal expenses, including payments on multi-million-dollar properties. Moore received more than $2 million from victims based on false claims he made regarding the mining of oil and gas and minerals and the sale of art.
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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 for a preliminary hearing on a criminal complaint on Aug. 16 was:
Rene Montenegro-Virrey, 50, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Montenegro-Virrey faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Montenegro-Virrey was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-47.
Appearing on Aug. 14 and pleading not guilty was:
Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 45, of Crow Agency, on charges of sexual abuse and attempted sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wallowing Bull faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Wallowing Bull was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Northern Cheyenne Criminal Investigative Services and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-110.
Kelly Duane Davis, 42, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Davis faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Davis was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-66.
Channon Nicole Freemont, 35, of Lame Deer, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Freemont faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. The FBI conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-95.
Derrick Lee Moore, 39, of Fairview, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Moore faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Moore was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-59.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Aug. 13 was:
Charles Clifford Hamlin, 60, of Helena, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hamlin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Hamlin was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-16.
Appearing on Aug. 12 was:
Stevenson Metelus, 35, of Margate, Florida, on charges of attempted coercion of a minor and use of facility in aid of racketeering. If convicted of the most serious crime, Metelus faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release. Metelus was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Missoula Police Department and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-34.
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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Havre woman admits lunging at airplane flight controls during landing at Havre airportRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS — A Havre woman who was a passenger on a small commercial airplane admitted on Thursday to interfering with the flight by lunging at the controls as the plane was landing, causing it to accelerate and turn on the runway, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
The defendant, Tracy Lynn Eagleman, aka Tracy Badmoccasin, 36, pleaded guilty to interfering with an aircraft in flight. Eagleman faces a maximum of 20 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 Dec. 11. Eagleman was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that on March 21, 2023, Eagleman was a passenger on Cape Air flight 1793, a small passenger plane that departed from Billings and was bound for Havre. On the final approach into Havre, about 10 miles out, Eagleman stood up and started yelling about the landing. The flight crew – a captain and first officer – were able to calm Eagleman down and get her back into her seat. However, just as the plane touched down, Eagleman lunged forward from her seat and hit the flight controls. Eagleman hit the throttle for one of the two engines, causing it to accelerate and prompting the plane to “yaw” or turn on the runway. At the time, the plane was traveling between 70 and 75 knots, which is approximately 80 mph. The flight crew regained control of the plane without further incident, stopped on the tarmac and eventually taxied safely to the airport terminal. One of the passengers recorded the incident on a cellphone. While the recording failed to capture the moment, Eagleman lunged at the control deck, other passengers are heard yelling in fear that they could have been killed. In later interviews, the flight crew indicated that yawing at 70 knots in an unbalanced aircraft could cause it to roll and crash.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Hill County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
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Billings felon sentenced to prison for illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Francisco Jose Nava, 31, pleaded guilty in March to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 21, 2023, Nava had a warrant out for his arrest, and law enforcement observed him in a pickup truck in Billings. Officers attempted to pull over Nava, but he fled. Law enforcement stopped Nava’s truck through a maneuver and saw him reaching around the truck’s interior. Inside the truck, law enforcement found a .40-caliber handgun on the front passenger seat. Nava had .40-caliber ammunition on his person. Nava was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous felony convictions and was on supervision for a felony offense at the time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Probation and Parole 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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Gallatin Gateway man unlawfully in the country admits illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Gallatin Gateway man accused of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition because he was in the United States unlawfully admitted to a firearms charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Oscar Enrique Ruiz Rojas, 25, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. Rojas faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Dec. 18 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. Rojas was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that law enforcement was investigating Rojas for cocaine distribution and observed him outside his house with a pistol on his hip on two days in April. On April 24, law enforcement served a search warrant on his residence and located several firearms and ammunition. Rojas admitted that he had been in the United States illegally for the past six years after crossing the southern border at Nogales, Arizona. Rojas further stated that he had purchased a .22-caliber firearm for $400 from an individual.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 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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