District of Montana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Browning man sentenced to 2 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter on Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Browning man who shot a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 24 months in prison to be followed by 2 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Treyson Lee Sharp, 22, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on the night of December 28, 2024, the defendant, Treyson Lee Sharp, invited Jane Doe to his family home for dinner. After dinner, they retired to his bedroom where Sharp showed Doe his Christmas presents, including a pair of .357 revolvers. While playing with the firearms, the defendant pointed the revolver at Doe and discharged the firearm, striking Doe in the neck.
Sharp immediately yelled for help. Family members who were in the home responded. One called 911 and one rendered medical aid to Doe. Doe died at the scene. Law enforcement responded to the home. In interviews with witnesses, they reported hearing Sharp and Doe laughing in the room immediately before hearing a single shot and then Sharp yelling for help.
Law enforcement recovered four firearms at the scene: two .357 revolvers, a .44 revolver, and a modified shotgun. They located a bullet hole in Sharp’s bedroom wall and found a spent projectile outside the house and a brass casing in the wall. The casing was forensically matched to one of the recovered .357 revolvers. The cylinder of the fired revolver had six chambers: five were empty and one contained a spent casing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
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Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Mexican man who entered the United States after being previously removed was sentenced today to time served, 219 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Juan Diego Rojas-Meneses, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of reentry of a removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 12, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Belgrade, Montana where they discovered Rojas-Meneses. He was interviewed at the scene and admitted being a citizen of Mexico without the necessary documentation to be in the United States.
A records check confirmed Rojas-Meneses is a citizen of Mexico who was last was removed from the United States on September 1, 2024, and September 23, 2024, through El Paso, Texas.
There is no record that he obtained the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the United States
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Belgrade Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
XXXLame Deer man sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted sexual abuseRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who attempted to sexually abuse a minor was sentenced today to 216 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Dean Allen Wallowing Bull, 46, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of attempted sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2009, Wallowing Bull and John Doe, a minor at the time, were drinking together at Wallowing Bull’s residence. Doe eventually fell asleep on a couch in the basement. When he awoke, he could see Wallowing Bull laying behind him and felt him reaching over Doe’s stomach toward his crotch. Doe got off the couch to leave, but Wallowing Bull blocked the doorway. Doe returned to the couch and fell asleep again.
After approximately 15 minutes, Doe awoke to find Wallowing Bull laying behind him again and reaching toward his crotch. When Doe tried to get off the couch to leave, Wallowing Bull pinned him to the couch to prevent him from escaping. Doe fought back and Wallowing Bull eventually allowed Doe to exit the basement. Evidence gathered throughout the investigation established that Wallowing Bull intended to remove Doe’s clothing in order to have anal or oral sex with Doe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA, and Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services.
Billings man sentenced to almost four years in prison for illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Isaac Clyde Martinez, 38, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 24, 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic violence call. When they arrived, officers found Jane Doe, who told them that she and Martinez had been arguing since the previous evening, and Martinez had pulled out a firearm and pointed it at her chest. She said that after Martinez cooled down, he placed the gun in a silver grill outside the residence. Jane Doe directed law enforcement to the location of the gun.
Law enforcement discovered the firearm where Jane Doe said it would be. The firearm was a black Taurus, model TH9, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol. Also discovered in the same location was a pistol bag, containing loose ammunition as well as a full box of 9mm ammunition. Fingerprints taken off the loose ammunition and box were later positively matched to Martinez.
On or about October 13, 2021, Martinez was sentenced in the United States District Court for the District of Montana for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Billings Police Department.
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Wyoming man pleads guilty to child pornography productionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Sheridan, Wyoming man accused of producing child pornography admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Zachary Dean Schifferns, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a maximum term of 30 years, a $250,000 fine, and five years to lifetime supervised release. Schifferns also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Schifferns was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on December 25, 2024, law enforcement in Rosebud County interviewed John Doe 1, then a 14-year-old male. John Doe 1 said about two weeks earlier Schifferns added John Doe 1 on a social media application. Schifferns told John Doe 1 he had an interest in boys aged 12-15. John Doe 1 explained Schifferns asked him for nude images and sent him a picture of his (Schifferns’) penis. At Schifferns’ urging, John Doe 1 said he sent Schifferns a picture of his abs and penis but then contended he photoshopped a picture of a penis he found on the internet onto his body to send to Schifferns.
Investigation into Schifferns’ electronic media led to the discovery of dozens of images and videos of child pornography. This included content depicting children 12 years of age or younger engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A review of Schifferns’ social media account contained communication between Schifferns and John Doe 1, among others. In the communications with John Doe 1, Schifferns solicitated child pornography from John Doe 1 and offered money to have sex with him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI, Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office and Big Horn County Sheriff's Office 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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Five more defendants sentenced in large, multi-state, fentanyl distribution caseRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – Five more defendants in a 13-defendant case were sentenced yesterday and today for trafficking fentanyl from Arizona to Montana and other states, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
On Monday, March 16, Sadie Cheryl Sawyer, 37, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and Zane Nicholas Schafer, 35, was sentenced to 30 months. Today, Carrie Jean Bishop, 52, Spring Marie Davis, 50, and Diana Michelle Karnes, 43, were also ordered to federal prison. Bishop received a term of 108 months, Davis 30, and Karnes 96.
All five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl in November 2025 and Karnes also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. They will each be on supervised release for five years after they serve their custodial sentences.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over all five hearings.
The government alleged in court documents that between February 2023 and March 2025, the members of this drug trafficking organization (DTO), headed by Gerad Nigel Punch, transported fentanyl into Montana for distribution. Punch and the coconspirators mailed and transported fentanyl from Phoenix, Arizona, for distribution to local dealers in Texas, Washington, and Montana.
When the fentanyl arrived in Montana, Punch either directly distributed the drugs to local traffickers or arranged for other coconspirators to sell them. Sawyer worked as a local distributor in Montana, buying large quantities of fentanyl from Punch and suppliers in Arizona and delivering the drugs to local dealers. Schafer received at least four packages of fentanyl at his residence in Anaconda for distribution in the surrounding area. Bishop worked with Gerad Punch and others to transport fentanyl into Montana and distributed the drugs to other sellers and local users. Davis connected co-conspirators in Arizona and Montana and directly assisted Gerad Punch in selling over 2,000 grams of fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer in Butte in October 2024. Karnes distributed fentanyl in Montana and connected Gerad Punch to purchasers in Montana, in part for forgiveness of drug debts she owed the DTO.
During the investigation of this DTO, law enforcement seized over 10 kilograms of fentanyl. Gerad Punch was previously sentenced on February 23, 2026, to 240 months in prison, and Brooke Cardonia was sentenced on January 28, 2026, to 108 months. Co-defendants Shawn Michael Scholler and Adam Joseph Sarvis are scheduled to plead guilty this week and the remaining defendants, D’Andre Dontae Glass, Dwayne Nyron Punch, Freddie Lee Carter, and Bernard Cowley Glass, Jr. will be sentenced in June and July.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Lowney and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, which includes agents from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Montana comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
Box Elder man pleads guilty to manslaughter chargesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man accused of stabbing another man on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Trent Justin Taylor, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of eight years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 16, 2026. Taylor was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of December 27, 2025, John Doe and his family planned to leave their house while Taylor and others stayed behind. While Doe was in the process of departing, an altercation ensued between Taylor and his girlfriend. Taylor became agitated and punched a hole in the wall, then declared he was going to kill himself. Doe told Taylor he would not allow Taylor to do that and followed Taylor into the kitchen.
Taylor grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at his chest. Doe tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the knife away from him. While Doe and Taylor fought for control over the knife, Doe suffered a stab wound to his chest. According to a witness, both Doe’s hands and Taylor’s hands were on the handle of the knife when the stabbing occurred. Witnesses at the scene immediately attempted to perform life-saving measures, but Doe was pronounced dead at the Northern Montana Hospital. An autopsy confirmed Doe died as a result of the stab wound to his chest.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Lame Deer man sentenced to 12 years in prison for assaulting federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who assaulted federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 150 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Caleb Raymond Carter, 40, was found guilty at a December 2025 trial of two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that John Does 1 and 2 are federal law enforcement officers employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. On May 2, 2025, John Doe 1 responded to a 911 call in Lame Deer. The caller, Jane Doe, advised Carter was drunk and was yelling at her mother, causing her to fear for her mother’s safety. By the time Doe 1 responded, the disturbance had subsided. Doe 1 contacted Jane Doe and her brother and confirmed they were safe. He instructed Jane Doe to call 911 again if there were any other issues. He cleared the residence.
Later the same day, Jane Doe called 911 again to report Carter had woken up and was “yelling around.” Again, Jane Doe expressed concern for her family’s physical safety. She also advised Carter may be armed with a firearm. John Does 1 and 2 responded to the residence in separate, marked patrol vehicles. Both officers activated their emergency lights and parked at the northeast corner of the property.
They approached a camper trailer on the property Carter had been using as a bedroom but no one responded to their knock on the door or their announcement that they were BIA police.
John Doe 1 proceeded to the nearby residence and was greeted at the door by Jane Doe’s brother. As he was speaking with the brother, Doe 1 heard a loud bang that he immediately recognized as a gunshot. Both Doe 1 and Doe 2 drew their duty weapons and retreated from the door. They advised dispatch that shots had been fired and commanded the occupants of the camper to exit. Eventually, Carter and his wife emerged from the trailer with their hands raised and both were taken into custody.
Law enforcement searched and photographed the camper trailer, noting a hole in the door consistent with a gun shot. They seized a 20-gauge shotgun in an overheard cabinet across from the door of the camper and observed a spent shell casing stuck inside the chamber. They also located and seized a box of 20-gauge ammunition from a kitchen cabinet.
During an interview with law enforcement, Carter claimed he had had “issues” with law enforcement entering onto the property in the past, and had posted a “No Trespassing” sign on the gate in an effort to deter them from doing so. He admitted he watched John Doe 1 access the property the first time and said he locked a gate after the officer left.
An FBI analyst examined the firearm and determined it functioned normally and would not have discharged accidentally.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIA.
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Helena man sentenced to over 11 years in prison for trafficking meth and fentanylRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Helena convicted of selling methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced Wednesday to 136 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Michael Wayne Hagman, 40, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement intercepted a package in February 2025 containing two pounds of methamphetamine and destined for Hagman’s residence. They searched that residence on February 28, 2025, and seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl, $39,704 in U.S. Currency, and several firearms.
During an interview with law enforcement on March 20, 2025, Hagman admitted he was receiving meth and fentanyl from a co-conspirator and distributing the drugs in the Helena area. The co-conspirator would sometimes front Hagman drugs to sell. Hagman said he sold fentanyl powder for the same price he paid for it and his source compensated him with user amounts of the drug. He also discussed the purchase and sale prices of meth, fentanyl, and M30s (fentanyl pills) and admitted he resold the meth at a higher price to make a profit.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Helena Police Department, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
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Garryowen man sentenced for vehicular death on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Garryowen man who caused the death of his female passenger in a motor vehicle crash was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Cade Cleatus Birdinground, 20, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that at approximately 4:30 A.M. on May 18, 2024, police responded to a motor vehicle crash on Highway 384 near Hardin, Montana on the Crow Reservation. There, police located a truck that had gone off the road and was partially submerged in the Big Horn River. Upon recovering the vehicle from the river, police discovered the body of a deceased female on the floorboard in the passenger seat area.
Police learned Birdinground had been taken in by neighbors near the scene of the crash. He had the key to the truck in his pocket and was intoxicated. Birdinground’s blood alcohol content was 218 mg/dL at 6:00 a.m., approximately 90 minutes after the crash.
Through the investigation, witnesses identified Birdinground as the driver. Police learned Jane Doe was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Witnesses reported Birdinground was driving recklessly and crashed the truck. The Montana Highway Patrol conducted a crash investigation and confirmed the driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road and crashed down an 18-foot embankment into the river.
An autopsy revealed Jane Doe’s cause of death was drowning and the manner of death was an accident related to being a passenger in a motor vehicle collision into a river.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The BIA, FBI, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
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Second defendant pleads guilty to carjacking resulting in deathRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman accused of facilitating a carjacking which resulted in death admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Shyanna Jo Whitewolf, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking resulting in death. Whitewolf faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Whitewolf was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 16, 2025, Violet Littlelight arranged for Keith Breckenridge to pick her up at her residence in Billings. Prior to meeting Breckenridge, Littlelight, Whitewolf and another co-defendant planned to rob Breckenridge and take his truck. Once they took Breckenridge’s truck, they planned to give it to a drug dealer in Hardin in exchange for drugs or money.
When Whitewolf, Littlelight, and the third co-defendant arrived at the rendezvous point, Breckenridge was suspicious. Littlelight vouched for Whitewolf and the other co-defendant and told Breckenridge they just needed a ride. Based on her assurances, Breckenridge let all three defendants into his truck.
As they drove, Whitewolf engaged Breckenridge in conversation to keep him calm. When they arrived in an alley, Breckenridge was directed to stop when he was stabbed approximately 20 times in his neck, chest, and stomach with a knife. The defendants removed Breckenridge from the driver’s seat and left him in the alley, where he subsequently died from the stab wounds.
The defendants then drove Breckenridge’s truck to Hardin. They changed their clothes and placed the bloody clothes in the truck. They then drove to a house on the Crow reservation. When they arrived, they decided they needed to clean the truck, so they used cleaning products they obtained from the owner of the house and threw their clothes and other incriminating evidence into a burn pit. As they were cleaning the truck, law enforcement officers arrived. Littlelight and the other co-defendant fled, leaving the truck behind. Whitewolf remained at the scene but falsely told law enforcement she was not involved with the truck. Consequently, Whitewolf was not arrested until several days later.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI, Billings Police Department, and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Hays woman sentenced to 22 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who beat a man so badly he later died from his injuries was sentenced to 22 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Heavenlee Drewann Sears, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in November 2025.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Fort Belknap law enforcement responded to John Doe’s house on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation around 6:00 AM on September 30, 2023. When the officer entered the house, he saw Doe on the kitchen floor, bloodied and unconscious. Doe’s daughter, Sears, and Alta Chandler were at the house, along with a relative of both Doe and Sears who had called 911.
Emergency medical services responded to the scene to transport Doe to the hospital. Body camera from the medical response shows Doe’s audibly labored breathing, along with his swollen and bloody face. Sears and Chandler are visible on the body camera lingering around the area where Doe had been laying, and the tribal officer repeatedly admonished Chandler to stop trying to wipe up blood. A peppermint schnapps bottle is depicted at the scene on the body camera.
Sears was arrested later that day and was wearing a bloody sweater and pants when she was taken into custody. When Sears spoke with the FBI, she told them she and Chandler had been drinking and driving around the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and their evening had included the purchase of a bottle of peppermint schnapps. Eventually, Sears admitted she and Chandler had gone to Doe’s house while they were heavily intoxicated and, once there, beat him. Sears hit Doe in the head with the bottle of peppermint schnapps, and Chandler hit Does with her fists while he was on the ground.
Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services. He was unresponsive and breathing erratically. His admission records state his ears and face were bruised and swollen, his nose was lacerated, his upper lip was lacerated, and there was a human bite mark on his forehead. There were also bite marks to his left wrist and left upper chest. After he was intubated, Doe was life flighted to a higher level of care.
On October 18, 2023, Doe was admitted to the Long-Term Care Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was largely unresponsive to stimuli and completely nonverbal due to his traumatic brain injury. Doe died on December 11, 2023.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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New York woman pleads guilty to mail fraudRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A New York woman accused of selling diet pills laced with methamphetamine through the mail admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Carrie Ann Taylor, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Taylor faces 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later date. Taylor was released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 5, 2023, victim John Doe 1 submitted an online tip regarding the sale of diet pills laced with methamphetamine. John Doe 1 said he ordered “Skald” brand diet pills on eBay in February of 2023 and started taking them in May. John Doe 1 was drug tested by his employer in June and failed a drug test. John Doe 1 believed the “Skald” diet pills were laced with illegal drugs. An FBI special agent met with John Doe 1 and collected what was left of the “Skald” diet pills. The pills were tested and showed positive results for methamphetamine.
The investigation revealed Taylor also mailed diet pills to a woman in Montana, Jane Doe 1. Taylor sent Jane Doe 1 six bottles of pills labelled “Skald Oxydynamic Fat Scorcher” in March of 2023. Jane Doe 1 told the FBI she used the pills for several months but did not experience weight loss, so she stopped taking them. She threw out most of the remaining pills but still had one bottle. Agents took custody of the bottle, tested the pills, and determined they contained methamphetamine.
On April 3, 2024, an FBI undercover agent ordered two kinds of diet pills from Taylor’s eBay account, “PhenQ Ultra” and “PhenGold.” Both orders were sent to Billings, and both tested positive for methamphetamine. At the same time, agents ordered bottles of “PhenQ Ultra” and “PhenGold” directly from the manufacturers. Those pills tested negative for methamphetamine.
On April 4, 2024, agents learned Taylor sent Jane Doe 2, located in Randolph, Wisconsin, illicit diet pills. The FBI reached out to local law enforcement and were able to collect the pills from Jane Doe 2. They were tested and also tested positive for methamphetamine.
In total, the FBI collected pills from five separate shipments sent by Taylor. Some were sent in 2023 and some in 2024. Every single pill tested had methamphetamine in it. Taylor fraudulently sold every bottle of pills by falsely claiming the pills were legitimate diet supplements manufactured by real supplement companies including brand names “Skald,” “PhenQ,” and “PhenGold.” The pills were shipped and delivered in bottles falsely labelled as these products.
The FBI determined Taylor began selling the counterfeit diet pills through eBay on October 27, 2021 and continued to do so until April 5, 2024.
Several customers told Taylor her pills were counterfeit and one manufacturer sent her a cease-and-desist notice accusing her of selling counterfeit versions of their products. Taylor’s victims were harmed in various ways. John Doe 2, a member of the U.S. Army, tested positive for meth during a random urinalysis and had to spend a significant sum of money hiring a lawyer to defend against allegations he was abusing drugs. John Doe 3 reported being fired from his job after testing positive for meth following a workplace drug test.
During the entire scheme, Taylor sold approximately 1,517 bottles of counterfeit diet pills and made about $56,454.26 in profits.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
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Billings woman pleads guilty to carjacking resulting in deathRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman accused of facilitating a carjacking resulting in death admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Violet Jeanee Littlelight, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking resulting in death. Littlelight faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Littlelight was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 16, 2025, Littlelight arranged for John Doe to pick her up at her residence in Billings. Prior to meeting Doe, Littlelight and co-defendants planned to rob Doe and take his truck. Once they took Doe’s truck, they planned to give it to a drug dealer in Hardin in exchange for drugs or money.
When Littlelight and her co-defendants arrived at the rendezvous point, Doe was suspicious. Littlelight vouched for the co-defendants and told Doe they just needed a ride. Based on her assurances, Doe let all three defendants into his truck.
When they arrived in an alley, Doe was directed to stop when he was stabbed approximately 20 times in his neck, chest, and stomach with a knife. The defendants removed Doe from the driver’s seat and left him in the alley, where he subsequently died from the stab wounds.
The defendants then drove Doe’s truck to Hardin. They changed their clothes and placed the bloody clothes in the truck. They then drove to a house on the Crow reservation. When they arrived, they decided they needed to clean the truck, so they used cleaning products they obtained from the owner of the house and threw their clothes and other incriminating evidence into a burn pit. As they were cleaning the truck, law enforcement officers arrived. The defendants fled, leaving the truck behind.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI, Billings Police Department, and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Billings man sentenced to 10 years in prison for drug chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Logan Scott Bergren, 43, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in May 2024, two separate sources of information reported Logan Bergren was selling methamphetamine and using CashApp to
conduct drug transactions. Law enforcement later searched the camper in which Bergren was living and seized over 100 grams of actual methamphetamine in the camper, two pistols, two shotguns, and ammunition. One of the women present at the camper told law enforcement she was there to purchase fentanyl from Bergren. In an interview with law enforcement, Bergren admitted to selling meth.
In January 2024, law enforcement searched Bergren’s hotel room at the Vegas motel in Billings. They located a small amount of methamphetamine and seized $2,500 from his jacket.
Text messages obtained through a search warrant confirmed Bergren was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl and using CashApp to accomplish sales. In those messages, Bergren often referred to methamphetamine as “clear” and fentanyl as “blues” or “blue skies.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF, Billings Police Department and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation.
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Washington man sentenced to over 16 years in prison for drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Washington man who was convicted of possessing drugs and guns was sentenced today to 194 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Felipe Michael Garza, 32, was found guilty by a jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm in November 2025.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on August 13, 2024, Garza was seen driving a black Chevrolet Silverado. He failed to stop at a stop sign and did not have a rear license plate on the truck. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop, and Garza pulled off on the lawn of a residence that was not his. The officer was advised Garza had a $1,000,000 warrant out of Washington and requested Garza step out of the truck. Garza seemed intent on giving his belongings to the other occupants of the truck. After being arrested, Garza admitted he had fentanyl in his fanny pack and that he had used methamphetamine approximately two hours prior. Garza also admitted there was marijuana and firearms in the truck.
Later that day, the truck and fanny pack were searched. Officers located a bag weighing 144.8 grams containing methamphetamine, a small baggie with 55 grams of suspected fentanyl pills, and $500 cash. The truck contained two firearms in the console, approximately three pounds of marijuana, a blue notebook, a scale, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, and $1881.00 cash. The notebook contained drug prices related to various drug types and amounts.
Garza has prior convictions for several felony offenses that prohibit him from possessing firearms.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and Polson Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Plains man sentenced to 7 years in prison for illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Plains man who was prohibited from owning firearms was sentenced today to 84 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Graham Anthony Bowden, 49, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of an unregistered silencer.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in the fall of 2024, law enforcement officers encountered Bowden in several instances in which they either observed him to be armed with a firearm or with firearms accessories. Based in part on those incidents, a federal search warrant was obtained to search Bowden’s residence, which was a camper parked on the property of Bowden’s friend. Also on the property was a freestanding home belonging to Bowden’s friend.
Agents located eight firearms belonging to Bowden, along with two silencers and assorted ammunition.
Law enforcement interviewed Bowden and he admitted he owned the firearms had been meaning to register them. Bowden acknowledged he had signed paperwork related to his California convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms but said he thought his rights had been automatically restored at some point. Bowden produced no paperwork to support that assertion.
Bowden also admitted to possessing the two silencers, saying one came with a firearm he purchased and that the other was a blank. Bowden said he didn’t know suppressors were federally controlled and needed to be registered. The silencers were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
On January 6, 2012, Bowden was convicted of six counts of robbery in the second degree with a firearms enhancement in Orange County Superior Court of California and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was paroled from custody in 2020.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The ATF, Plains Police Department, and Sanders County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.
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Billings woman sentenced to over 7 years in prison for distributing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 87 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Rita Denny, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 21, 2022, law enforcement officers arranged to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from a co-defendant. Agents arrived and arrested the co-defendant, who was in possession of 50 fentanyl pills and approximately 64 grams of meth. The co-defendant’s passenger told agents “Rita” supplied the drugs to the co-defendant.
Agents obtained a search warrant for the co-defendant’s phone and located messages between the co-defendant and Rita Denny. Those messages indicated Denny was supplying the co-defendant with drugs and dictating the price at which the co-defendant should sell the drugs.
On September 30, 2022, agents obtained a search warrant for Denny’s residence. They seized 179.9 grams of methamphetamine and $5,694 in cash. Denny agreed to speak with agents and admitted to traveling to California to purchase bulk amounts of methamphetamine. Specifically, she told agents she took two recent trips to California to purchase five pounds of methamphetamine each time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the DEA conducted the investigation.
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Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Mexican man who was illegally in the United States after being removed was sentenced today to time served, 161 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
David Antonio Molina-Mendoza, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to illegal reentry of removed alien.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 19, 2025, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle driven by the defendant on Interstate 90 near Forsyth. Officers requested a records check on Molina-Mendoza and learned he was in the United States illegally. Records revealed Molina-Mendoza was a citizen of Mexico who had previously been removed from the United States on four separate occasions and had no documentation to reside in the United States legally.
Molina-Mendoza was taken into custody by Border Patrol Agents. In an interview with agents, Molina-Mendoza acknowledged he entered the United States illegally.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Border Patrol and Rosebud County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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India-based scheme courier sentenced to 6 years in prison on fraud chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A man originally from India who stole over $1.7 million from the elderly was sentenced today to 72 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Zabi Ullah Mohammed, 29, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud after trial in October 2025.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents, and at trial, that Zabi Ullah Mohammed was a courier connected to an India-based scheme designed to steal from the elderly across the United States. Although the scheme contained many different variations, the ultimate end was that victims were fraudulently led to believe it was necessary to withdraw money and other assets from various financial institutions and provide it to a “federal agent” purportedly for “safekeeping.” In reality, there was no “federal agent” and the money that victims provided to Mohammed under this pretense was simply stolen from the victims.
Authorities discovered Mohammed as a conspirator in this case because a victim in Missoula reported she was defrauded of over $900,000. To catch the fraudsters involved, law enforcement set up a ruse pickup in Missoula with a package that contained a tracking device. Mohammed arrived and picked up the package of what he believed was cash. When Mohammed discovered the tracker inside, he threw the package out of his vehicle and attempted to flee. When arrested, Mohammed attempted to claim he was a victim of this scheme as well; however, a trial jury found that Mohammed was, in fact, a member of the conspiracy.
Victims in this case lost over $3,900,000, and Mohammed personally retrieved approximately $1,700,933 in gold and U.S. currency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The FBI and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Hays man sentenced for assault on Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Hays man who struck a man in the face with a screwdriver was sentenced today to 6 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Russell Thomas Young, 40, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that the defendant and John Doe spent portions of the day together at Doe’s house on September 23, 2023. Young and Doe were outside doing yard work when Young began to act strangely, staring into the windows of the home. Eventually Young entered Doe’s home and went into the basement. While Young was in the basement, Doe and Doe’s wife overhead Young speaking as though other people were in the basement with him, despite Young being the only person there at the time. At that point, Doe went into the house and yelled down the stairs that Young should leave.
Young then emerged quickly from downstairs with a screwdriver in his hand. He attacked Doe by stabbing him with the screwdriver on the left side of Doe’s face, near the temple. Young continued to punch and strike Doe with the screwdriver until Doe’s wife stopped the assault by striking Young with a fishing pole. Doe’s wife called 911 and, because the house was filling with smoke, reported that Young had set the house on fire. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and extinguished a fire that started in the basement furnace.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Jury finds Minnesota man guilty of sexual abuse charges on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Minnesota man who sexually abused two children on the Crow Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Robert Dean Dust, 35, was found guilty of two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Dust faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 25, 2026. Dust was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that in May 2024 Jane Does 1 and 2 disclosed to police Dust subjected them to years of sexual abuse in Lodge Grass.
Jane Does 1 and 2 both disclosed Dust sexually abused them in their home regularly beginning when they were 4 and 5 years old and he was 20. Both victims described how Dust made them perform sexual acts on him and how he performed sexual acts on them. Jane Does 1 and 2 said Dust’s abuse continued until around 2015.
On October 18, 2024, law enforcement interviewed Dust and the interview was recorded. During the interview, he initially denied the abuse, but eventually admitted he sexually abused Jane Doe 1. Dust admitted he had Jane Doe 1 perform oral sex on him and that he touched his penis to her vagina.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and BIA.
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Bozeman man pleads guilty to child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA - A Bozeman man accused of trading and uploading child pornography admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Jaden Douglas Batson, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. Batson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 1, 2026. Batson remains released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in June 2023, law enforcement received a Cybertip from an electronic service provider indicating that an account registered to Batson had paid $20 for child pornography. Law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for Batson’s PayPal account and received information indicating he made a payment of $20 on June 14, 2023, with a note stating, “For the cp gc.”
Based on this and other information, law enforcement continued to receive other Cybertips connected to Batson. These tips, submitted by electronic service providers, reflected Batson trading and uploading child pornography. Multiple search warrants were obtained and executed on various electronic service accounts registered to Batson and results contained multiple images and videos of child pornography. On April 9, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Batson’s residence in Bozeman, Montana and electronic media was seized. During the execution of that warrant, Batson agreed to be interviewed following a waiver of Miranda. During that interview, Batson admitted he had traded child pornography on social media sites. His cellular phone was later reviewed and approximately 688 videos and 362 images of child pornography were discovered. Also found were messages consistent with Batson attempting to obtain child pornography.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and Bozeman Police Department 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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Butte man sentenced to 3 years in prison for illegal firearm possessionRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Butte man who illegally possessed multiple firearms was sentenced today to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Shawn Troy Thumper Saccheri, 49, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on November 27, 2024, law enforcement conducted a search at Saccheri’s residence after receiving information he possessed firearms. Prior to the search, Saccheri admitted he possessed prohibited items. Law enforcement located the following five firearms and ammunition at his residence:
- Harrington & Richardson model 765 Pioneer, .22 caliber rifle
- Winchester model 1912, 12-gauge shotgun with a shortened barrel
- Western Auto Supply Revelation model 120, .22 caliber rifle
- Remington model 870, 12-gauge shotgun
- Winchester model 97, 12-gauge shotgun
- Harrington and Richardson model Bay State shotgun receiver
- Assorted ammunition and a magazine
On October 11, 2018, Saccheri was convicted of distribution of dangerous drugs, a felony, in Flathead County and sentenced to six years to the Montana Department of Corrections. On June 9, 2023, he was convicted of possession of dangerous drugs, a felony, in Yellowstone County and sentenced to five years all suspended with credit for 160 days in custody. Each conviction is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year which prohibits Saccheri from owning firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The ATF conducted the investigation.
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Man from Netherlands sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking and money launderingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A man from the Netherlands who trafficked more than ten kilograms of fentanyl into Montana and other states was sentenced today to 240 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Gerad Nigel Punch, 40, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
“This defendant and his organization mailed a staggering quantity of drugs from Arizona to Montana and other states and laundered the proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. “The sentence he received today sends a message to drug traffickers around the country that we will take the fight to them to keep Montana safe. I’m grateful to the lawyers and staff in our office and our law enforcement partners for working so hard to dismantle this criminal organization.”
“This investigation and subsequent conviction are a great example of how we can work with our federal partners to keep Montana communities drug free. I’m especially proud of the work that was done by the Division of Criminal Investigation to get this poison off our streets,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “As Attorney General, I will continue to use every resource available to the state to keep drugs out of our communities, criminals behind bars, and Montana safe.”
“While the enforcement of our nation’s tax laws remains our top priority, IRS Criminal Investigation plays a critical role in the battle against narcotics trafficking as well,” said Amanda Prestegard, IRS-CI Denver Field Office Special Agent in Charge. “We target the illicit financial networks that fund these criminal organizations, and work side-by- side with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug traffickers cannot continue profiting from addiction and suffering in our communities.”
“Today’s sentencing of Punch sends a clear message that those who traffic dangerous and deadly narcotics through our communities will be held accountable,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “The Postal Inspection Service along with our partners fights every day to keep these poisonous drugs from reaching communities across Montana. One pill, one gram, that’s all it takes to change the course of someone’s life. Removing someone like Punch from the streets is one step closer to the goal of ending this epidemic”
“This investigation successfully dismantled a major drug trafficking and money laundering organization responsible for moving over 300,000 fentanyl pills into Montana in 2024 before they were arrested,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge for the Rocky Mountain Region Charles Engle. “HSI would like to thank all of its investigative partners for the outstanding work. The collaborative investigation led to charges against 14 defendants, making a significant impact on Montana and its communities.”
The government alleged in court documents that Between February 2023 and March 2025, members of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) headed by Gerad Nigel Punch transported fentanyl into Montana for distribution. Punch and his coconspirators mailed and transported fentanyl from Phoenix, Arizona, for distribution to local dealers in Texas, Washington, and Montana.
When the fentanyl arrived in Montana, Punch either directly distributed those drugs to local traffickers or arranged for other coconspirators to sell the drugs. Punch was paid several different ways for the drugs he provided, including through coconspirators depositing money in Montana bank accounts he controlled, but were opened in the names his coconspirators. Punch would then withdraw the funds the coconspirators deposited as payment for the drugs. Punch also utilized money transfer services, like Cash App and Western Union, to both receive and distribute money to further the DTO.
During the investigation of Punch’s DTO, law enforcement seized over 10 kilograms of fentanyl. Punch was personally caught with over 2,000 grams of fentanyl, which he sold to an undercover officer in Butte in October 2024.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Lowney and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, which includes agents from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
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Honduran man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A man from Honduras who was in the United States illegally was sentenced on Tuesday, February 17, to time served, 76 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Wilson Edis Rodriguez-Serrano, 39, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of illegal reentry.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on the morning of December 4, 2025, Border Patrol agents were alerted to a construction-type truck at a gas station in Havre that was suspected of being operated by an individual unlawfully present in the United States. The truck’s driver was outside pumping gas while three other men were inside the truck.
Agents initiated a consensual encounter at the gas pump, which evolved into a detailed immigration inspection. The defendant, Wilson Edris Rodriguez-Serrano, was identified as one of the passengers in the truck and determined to be a citizen of Honduras. Law enforcement determined all four men were in the United States illegally, and they were transported to the Havre Border Patrol Station for further processing.
At the Station, Rodriguez-Serrano was advised of his Warning as to Rights. He acknowledged his rights and was willing to speak without a lawyer present. He admitted he crossed the international boundary into the United States from Mexico near Eagle Pass, Texas. He also acknowledged he had previously entered the United States unlawfully and been ordered to return to Honduras. In fact, on November 21, 2010, Rodriguez-Serrano requested and was granted a Voluntary Return to Honduras, and on October 28, 2019, a final order of removal was issued to him.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Box Elder man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for assault on Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man who impaled an individual’s eye with a cane on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Mario Patacsil, Jr., 57, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that On July 22, 2024, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a house after a 911 call reporting that the defendant, Mario Patacsil, Jr., had shot John Doe in the arm. When officers arrived, Doe stated that he had not been shot, but Patacsil had beaten him with a wooden cane and stuck him in the eye. Officers could see Doe’s right eye was swollen and had a circular wound around it. The wound appeared consistent with being prodded with the bottom of a cane. Doe also had bruising on his forearm. The officers arrested Patacsil and found a wooden cane in his car.
The FBI interviewed both Doe and Patacsil. Both described an argument that resulted in Patacsil, Jr. “poking” Doe with his cane before he fled the scene.
Doe was seen at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. He was admitted with a ruptured orbital globe with no vision or light perception in his right eye and underwent surgery. In August, Doe went out of state for additional surgery in an attempt to save his eye. There he underwent a vitrectomy to remove the fluid within his eye, a lensectomy to remove the lens of his eye, and a retinectomy to remove the retina. Doe permanently lost vision in his right eye.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Jury finds California woman guilty of defrauding local bank of over $170,000Read the Press Release
MISSOULA – A California woman who defrauded a local bank of over $170,000 was found guilty by a federal jury today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Kristin Renee Zelonish Edwards, 38, was found guilty of four counts of bank fraud. Edwards faces 30 years of imprisonment on each count, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 23, 2026. Edwards was released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Kristin Edwards defrauded Glacier Bank of over $170,000 by depositing 12 fraudulent savings bonds at four different bank branches in Northwest Montana. Edwards traveled from California to Montana to deposit the savings bonds, making four trips between October 2022 and January 2023. Glacier Bank received notice in February 2023 from the United States Treasury Department that one of the savings bonds deposited by Edwards was fraudulent. Glacier Bank’s security officer called Edwards and informed her of the fraudulent bond. Her response was that she found the savings bonds while going through boxes of her deceased grandmother’s items with her mother.
Witnesses testified Edwards never received bonds from her grandmother’s estate. The savings bonds deposited by Edwards that were alleged to have been purchased by her grandmother had issue dates as early as 1980—over 6 years before Edwards was born. The fraudulent savings bonds have Edwards’ Social Security Number printed on them, which means, if Edwards’ story were true, her grandmother bought the bonds in Edwards’ name and with Edwards’ Social Security Number six years before Edwards was born.
The U.S. Secret Service analyzed the savings bonds and found they had several common defects and were not made with the printing presses used for authentic savings bonds. Edwards’ fraudulent savings bonds also share a common source with other fraudulent savings bonds that were deposited in Idaho and Colorado by Edwards’ unindicted co-conspirator.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Stack and Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.
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Harlem woman sentenced to prison for trafficking drugs on the Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Harlem woman who trafficked fentanyl and methamphetamine on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 28 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Twila Marie Cochran, 49, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Cochran has been trafficking controlled substances on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation since at least October 2022.
On April 6, 2023, she drove to St. Regis to pick up thousands of fentanyl pills and 12 ounces of methamphetamine to sell on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Her co-defendant put the drugs in her car, which she drove back to her home.
Prior to the drug run, Cochran bragged in text messages to her co-defendant about being able to hide the drugs in her home.
Law enforcement eventually recovered nearly 2,500 fentanyl pills associated with the April 2023 drug run hidden on Cochran’s property. Between October 2022 until she was incarcerated, she continued to traffic meth and fentanyl to members of the Fort Belknap Indian Community.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Myers prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Box Elder man pleads guilty to drug charges on the Rocky Boy’s Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Box Elder man accused of distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Harold Blake Whitford, Sr., 56, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Whitford faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 17, 2026. Whitford remains released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early hours of March 28, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to investigate reports of a shooting on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Surveillance video from the scene showed two suspected gunmen arrive and depart in a pickup truck. A truck that looked like the one used in the shooting was located shortly thereafter in front of Whitford’s home. Officers confirmed that vehicle was the truck used in the shooting.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant and found the following items rolled up in a shirt near Whitford’s bed:
- A plastic baggie containing 489 suspected fentanyl pills;
- Twenty-seven small plastic baggies each containing 10 suspected fentanyl pills;
- A plastic baggie containing powder; and
- Two plastic baggies containing suspected methamphetamine.
Officers also found a ripped piece of paper that said, “100pack-$1400,” “$700,” “$300” near the head of Whitford’s bed. They found a scale and a rifle at the house as well.
When Whitford was arrested on an outstanding warrant over a week later, he removed a ziplock bag from his pocket and threw it. A pink pill also fell out of his pocket, and another pill was found on his person. The ziplock bag had suspected fentanyl pills in it.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Billings man appears on drug chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man accused of possessing 45 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution appeared today in federal court, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lane Demarais, 45, is charged by complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan presided and Demarais was detained pending further proceedings.
The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Eastern Montana HIDTA drug task force (EMHIDTA) served several search warrants in Billings and Laurel. The coordinated effort resulted in the seizure of several firearms, over $31,000 in cash, and approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine in individually wrapped one-pound packages.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case. The investigation is being conducted by the EMHIDTA, which includes agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. Service of the search warrants included assistance from the Billings Police Department Street Crimes Unit, SWAT Team, and Drone Team, the Laurel Police Department, and the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office TRT.
The charging document is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
PACER case reference. 26-19.
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.
Billings man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for multiple gun chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man, who is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms because of his prior commitment to a mental institution, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for making false statements to obtain firearms and for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Ryan David Schreder, 45, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to four counts of making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement began investigating Schreder after repeatedly being told about his escalating behavior. On October 10, 2024, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant for Schreder’s residence. They recovered 23 firearms and 1,176 assorted rounds of ammunition, including large capacity magazines, during the search.
During ATF’s investigation, it was discovered that between February 11, 2022, and June 18, 2024, Schreder purchased firearms on at least 18 occasions from four different licensed firearms dealers in Billings. Each count of conviction for false statement in acquisition of a firearm represented the transactions made at each of the respective firearms dealers.
To obtain the firearms, Schreder knowingly responded untruthfully on ATF Form 4473 (“Firearms Transaction Record”) by answering “no” in response to the question “Have you ever been adjudicated mentally defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution.” If a potential buyer answers “yes” in response to this question, a licensed firearms dealer cannot proceed with the sale of a firearm. A licensed firearms dealer has no ability to independently verify the veracity of a response to that question as involuntary commitments are not recorded on criminal history reports in Montana.
At least three firearms Schreder purchased have been recovered by law enforcement during investigations into reports unrelated to him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Vestal prosecuted the case. The ATF and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Lame Deer man sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault and gun charges on the Northern Cheyenne Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who committed an assault with a firearm on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 10 years and 1 day in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jerray Eugene Rowland, 29, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 15, 2023, Rowland and others were driving around and drinking. They stopped at a house to obtain more alcohol. The victim, John Doe, had been drinking at a nearby residence and was walking down the road. Doe encountered Rowland and a female. Rowland and/or the female said Doe was the man who had shot their father. Rowland then said he was “[father’s] oldest boy.” Rowland pulled out a pistol and shot Doe. In 2017, Doe shot Rowland’s father and law enforcement determined the shooting was in self-defense.
Doe told law enforcement Rowland shot him with a 9mm firearm. Officers recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene and, later, a 9mm bullet from Doe’s hospital room. Doe was shown a photo array of five individuals, including Rowland, and identified Rowland as the man who shot him.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, BIA and Northern Cheyenne Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Jury finds Crow Agency man guilty of sexual abuse on the Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Crow Agency man who sexually abused a minor on the Crow Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a three-day trial, Jared Cordell Stewart, 54, was found guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact of a child. Stewart faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 4, 2026. Stewart was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that in July of 2020 Jane Doe disclosed Stewart had been sexually abusing her. However, during a visit from law enforcement Doe denied the abuse.
About one year later, in October 2021, the police spoke with Jane Doe again. This time she said Stewart had sexually abused her many times, beginning when she was seven or eight years old. Law enforcement interviewed everyone who lived in the home, and many reported seeing Stewart go into Jane Doe’s room at night and after she showered. Some of the other people who lived in the home reported seeing Stewart treat Jane Doe differently and saw inappropriate photos of her on his cell phone. One child reported that while he was visiting the home he witnessed Stewart touch Jane Doe’s legs while she was in bed. Another minor, Jane Doe 2, reported Stewart made inappropriate comments about her and approached her while she was alone and asleep in her room on one occasion. Jane Doe 2 said she refused Stewart’s advances, and she believes he thereafter targeted Jane Doe.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Hendricks and Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
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Idaho man sentenced to 9 months in prison for stealing precious artifactsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A man from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho who stole items from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in 2024 was sentenced today to 9 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Roger Edward Hawkes, 71, pleaded guilty, also today, to one count of removing archeological resources.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Hawkes entered the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls on September 14, 2024, approached a table-top display entitled
“Weapons of the Expedition Interpretation,” and stole two historic weapons. The first is an authentic, antique, English, single-shot, black-powder Mortimer pistol, and the second is a knife in a leather, beaded sheath. Both items were made in the late 1700s or early 1800s.
As Hawkes left the building with the stolen artifacts, video surveillance appeared to show him conceal both items up his sleeve.
The United States Forest Service posted information about the theft on Facebook and received tips Hawkes was selling knives at the Little Red Truck Cottage Market. A witness confirmed Hawkes was in Great Falls on September 15 and 16, 2024, selling western items, including knives and antique pistols. Local law enforcement was able to confirm Hawkes was at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center when the theft occurred.
Hawkes sold the stolen pistol to Cisco’s Gallery and law enforcement recovered it on October 24, 2024.
Following his arrest on an unrelated matter, an FBI Task Force Officer interviewed Hawkes about the September 2024 theft. He initially denied any involvement, but later said the knife, which he thought was a replica, was in his storage unit. He allowed the FBI to enter the unit and they recovered the knife.
During a second interview in May 2025, Hawkes again denied stealing the pistol and knife and said pleading guilty in his prior case did not seem to help since he received a prison sentence as opposed to probation. Hawkes has a history of theft that spans more than 40 years in California, Nevada, and Idaho.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Great Falls Police Department, the United States Forest Service, and the FBI Art Crime Team/FBI Billings Division.
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Poplar man sentenced to prison for assault on the Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who assaulted a female on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 23 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lawrence George Fast Horse, 35, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on August 2, 2024, Lawrence George Fast Horse stabbed Jane Doe in Poplar. Responding officers observed a stab wound on Jane Doe’s upper back. An officer searched Fast Horse at the scene and located a knife with brass knuckles attached to it in his right-side shorts pocket.
A witness told law enforcement Fast Horse and Jane Doe were arguing. She saw Fast Horse push Jane Doe from behind and then noticed him attempt to conceal a blade behind his back.
Jane Doe was treated for three stab wounds and was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation.
Fast Horse has been convicted of several prior domestic assaults, including on June 20, 2008, May 23, 2009, January 27, 2013, October 21, 2019, and October 26, 2020.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Poplar man pleads guilty to murder and gun charges on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Poplar man accused of murder and using a firearm in the commission of the murder admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Michael J. Ackerman, 74, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Ackerman faces a maximum term of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 3, 2026. Ackerman was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of September 14, 2025, law enforcement officers in Billings responded to a call and were advised Ackerman had admitted to killing three people – Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2. Deputies initiated contact with Ackerman inside the house in Billings.
After the deputies read his Miranda rights, Ackerman agreed to speak with law enforcement. He said on Thursday, September 11, 2025, he and the rest of the people in the house were using methamphetamine. Ackerman believed Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2 were “setting him up.” Ackerman said he was in the bedroom with Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 1 had a pistol in her hand. Ackerman picked up his Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol and shot Jane Doe 1 twice in the head. The defendant heard John Doe and Jane Doe 2 moving in the next room. Michael walked into the room where John Doe and Jane Doe 2 were sleeping and shot them both. Ackerman told officers they would find the deceased inside his house in Poplar.
Fort Peck Law and Justice Department officers went to the house in Poplar and received no response. They were granted a telephonic search warrant from the Fort Peck Tribal Court and went inside the house at around 5:30am. Inside they found the deceased individuals mentioned by Ackerman – Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2. All three of the bodies had gunshot wounds and four 9 mm casings were close to the bodies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Harlem man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Harlem man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Ivan Daniel Raining Bird, 35, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of sexual abuse of a minor.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that John Doe was about 13 years old when he received a Facebook Message from a user who went by “Ivey” and appeared to be a woman. “Ivey” turned out to be the defendant, Ivan Raining Bird, who was in his late 20s at the time. Doe and Raining Bird continued to message, and Raining Bird eventually invited Doe over to his house.
When Doe arrived at Raining Bird’s house, he realized Raining Bird was a man dressed as a woman. Doe and Raining Bird shared substances and Raining Bird performed oral sex on Doe. For several months, Raining Bird committed similar assaults on Doe.
The FBI investigated Doe’s disclosure of the abuse and interviewed Raining Bird. Raining Bird admitted sharing drugs with teenagers in the past and specifically admitted he knew John Doe was a minor and sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Brockton man pleads guilty to assault and sexual assault charges on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Brockton man accused of assaulting a man and sexually assaulting a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Eithan Toby McKay, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. McKay faces a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. McKay was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in September 2024, law enforcement received information about a juvenile female, Jane Doe, being pregnant. Doe was subsequently interviewed and identified Eithan Toby McKay as the father. Doe and McKay met on social media and started hanging out. The two engaged in a sexual relationship and conceived a child. Based on the due date, it was determined that Doe was 13 years old at the time of conception. McKay was 19 at the time. DNA testing later determined that Doe and McKay are 5.7 billion times more likely to be the parents than if Doe and an unrelated randomly selected person are the parents.
Additionally, shortly after 2:00 am on March 4, 2025, a person called 911 to report an assault at an address in Brockton. The person said an individual was struck over the head with a machete and was bleeding. When asked by the 911 operator if the perpetrator was still there the caller said, “He just walked in the living room - he’s drunk - it’s Eithan McKay.”
Law enforcement arrived and found the victim, John Doe, with serious injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder. Doe was bleeding heavily. The responding officer could see Doe’s bones in multiple places and applied a tourniquet. Doe said Eithan McKay slashed him with a machete because Doe wanted to leave and McKay didn’t want him to leave. As they loaded Doe into an ambulance, McKay walked over with his hands in the air and said he did it. He continued by saying he stabbed Doe and then Doe took the machete from him.
Doe was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with severe lacerations to the shoulder, arm, head, and back. He was provided fentanyl for pain management. He was air flighted to Billings for treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Hays man pleads guilty to assault on Fort Belknap Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Hays man accused of assaulting two females on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Lane Blake Kirkaldie, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault. Kirkaldie faces a term of imprisonment of ten years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 28, 2026. Kirkaldie was released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the early hours of January 1, 2025, Kirkaldie and a group of people attended a gathering at a house on the Fort Belknap Indian
Reservation. According to witnesses, there was an altercation that resulted in Kirkaldie being told to leave the house. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 left the house with him. The trio walked to a business in Lodge Pole, which is equipped with surveillance cameras. In one of the surveillance videos, Kirkaldie can be seen throwing things before lunging toward Jane Doe 2. The video also shows him making threatening comments while holding a glass bottle.
A different surveillance video shows both Jane Does leave the building, with Kirkaldie trailing them outside. He tried to approach Jane Doe 2, and Jane Doe 1 put herself between them. She held Kirkaldie back as Jane Doe 2 returned inside. After he pushed her away, Kirkaldie struck Jane Doe 1 in the head with the glass bottle, which cut her head badly enough to require stitches.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Billings woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for distributing methamphetamineRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Stephanie Marie Nava, 37, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on June 26, 2023, the Billings Police Department determined an apartment belonging to Stephanie Nava was used for storing drugs by Nava’s co-defendant. A state search warrant was executed. Nava was present and said she didn’t know what her co-defendant stored at her place. During the search, officers located 7 grams of fentanyl pills and 16.7 grams of meth in a back bedroom.
Law enforcement officers served a search warrant on a hotel room in Billings where approximately 2.77 pounds of methamphetamine was seized. Officers determined this was originally 8 pounds, but the rest had been distributed to others. Law enforcement executed another search warrant at a residence and seized eight ounces of meth. The original 8 pounds and the redistributed quantities were coordinated through Stephanie Nava and a co-defendant, both of whom were in Mexico.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Judge finds Billings man guilty of felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who possessed a firearm following a felony conviction was found guilty by a federal judge today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Following a 1-day trial, Cody Lloyd Smith, 42, was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The penalties for that crime are up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 28, 2026.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Smith and three others were traveling in Carbon County, Montana on December 8, 2023. Smith was driving. A Carbon County Sheriff’s deputy clocked Smith going 91 mph in a 65-mph zone and pulled him over. The deputy thought Smith might be under the influence and eventually ran his trained K-9 around the car. The dog hit on the car and the deputy seized it and conducted a search on December 9, 2023, the day after the traffic stop. He seized several items, including a Taurus, 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms based on his felony conviction in Nevada in 2016 for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF.
Spokane man sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Spokane man who trafficked dangerous drugs while possessing firearms was sentenced yesterday to 200 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Thomas Anthony Biesiadecki, 30, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that several sources identified Biesiadecki as their major supplier of fentanyl. Sources stated they purchased thousands of fentanyl pills from him and one source said Biesiadecki would travel to Missoula from Spokane daily from January 2024 through the middle of summer 2024 to deliver fentanyl pills and powder. Another source stated they purchased fentanyl pills and methamphetamine from Biesiadecki in 2024. One source reported Biesiadecki traveled to Missoula and then Butte to trade drugs for firearms.
On May 16, 2025, Biesiadecki’s vehicle was searched in Spokane, Washington. Law enforcement officers located two firearms, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cash. Biesiadecki was interviewed and admitted to distributing drugs and trading drugs for firearms in the vehicle.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Pray man pleads guilty to possession of explosivesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Pray man accused of possessing explosives admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices. Lewis faces a term of imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 20, 2026. Lewis was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on September 19, 2022, law enforcement officers were called to investigate reports of a dead body in a travel trailer near Pray, an unincorporated community in Park County, Montana. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and observed a deceased man in a trailer in which Lewis lived, and it appeared the man had died from a gunshot wound to the top of the head. During an authorized search of the trailer, officers located eight Molotov cocktails, complete with bottles, fuel, and wicks, located in a cabinet. Elsewhere throughout the trailer, law enforcement recovered dozens of empty bottles and rags that could be used to assemble additional Molotov cocktails, as well as several journals and other writings belonging to Lewis. In some of the writings, Lewis discussed a plan to make Molotov cocktails and use them as destructive devices.
The Molotov cocktail evidence was ultimately collected and submitted to the FBI Laboratory. Explosives experts determined the fuel inside the bottles was an ignitable liquid, and when ignited, the assembled bottles, rags, and fuel would function as improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as homemade firebombs or Molotov cocktails. A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record found Lewis has never applied for or received permission to possess a destructive device.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Benjamin Hargrove prosecuted the case. The FBI and Park County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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Laurel man pleads guilty to illegal possession of ammunitionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Laurel man accused of possessing a firearm illegally admitted to charges on Tuesday, January 20, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Kenton Charles Maslen, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Maslen faces a term of imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. Maslen was detained further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 19, 2025, law enforcement was asked to assist with the eviction of Maslen from a residence in Laurel, Montana. During the search, law enforcement observed a white crystalline substance on a piece of glass in Maslen’s bedroom. Based on this discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant on the same day and discovered the following:
- The search in Maslen’s bedroom yielded a brown leather handgun holster a green ammunition can. The can contained boxes of .22 caliber ammo and 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
- In the driveway of Maslen’s residence was a fifth-wheel camper Maslen claimed as his own. During the search of the camper, a black 12-gauge shotgun was in a case. The shotgun did not have a serial number, and it appeared that the barrel had been cut short to approximately 16 inches. The case also contained a loaded pistol magazine for a Smith and Wesson pistol, more shotgun ammunition and 9mm ammunition.
- On the floor of the camper was a compartment that agents were able to open. They discovered another firearm, a North American Arms .17 caliber revolver.
- Law enforcement also searched the defendant’s truck and discovered a gun box containing a Ruger “Single Six” .22 caliber revolver.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Honduran man sentenced on immigration chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Honduran man who entered the United States illegally was sentenced today to time served, 192 days, and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Grevil Lopez Flores, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of reentry of removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 12, 2025, Lopez Flores was arrested for driving under the influence in Bozeman. The detention facility notified the Department of Homeland Security that he matched the description of an individual with immigration arrests and prior deportations.
Fingerprint comparisons confirmed Lopez Flores was issued a final order of removal on April 23, 2019, and has been removed from the United States on one prior occasion. On May 15, 2019, he was removed through the Mesa, Arizona, port of entry. He was served with notice barring him from returning to the United States for 10 years.
During an interview on July 14, 2025, Lopez Flores provided his name and his date of birth. He confirmed he is a Honduran national and citizen and has no documents to enter or remain in the United States.
There is no indication in the files of the Department of Homeland Security Lopez Flores ever applied for or obtained the permission of the United States Attorney General or successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to reenter the United States.
Prior criminal history for Lopez Flores includes a December 7, 2018, conviction in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming, for operating a vehicle under the influence, a misdemeanor, for which he was sentenced to a term of six days in jail and a fine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Bozeman woman pleads guilty to fraud chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA - A Bozeman woman accused of obtaining relief funds through fraud admitted to charges yesterday U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Alaina Marie Garcia, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. She faces up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and five years of supervised release. For money laundering, she faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 20, 2026. Garcia was released with conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on May 5, 2020, Garcia, as an authorized representative of Bluebird Property Rentals LLC, an entity she controlled, applied for and was approved for a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan through Celtic Bank, in the amount of $613,000.00. In the PPP application, Garcia falsely stated that Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had paid payroll taxes and had 32 employees with an average monthly payroll expense of $245,533.00. None of these statements were true. Garcia and Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had no employees and had never paid payroll tax. Both of these fraudulent statements were material as they effected Garcia’s eligibility to receive the loan and the amount she received. Without these fraudulent statements, the loan would not have been issued.
In the loan application, Garcia also agreed that the funds “will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule.” Garcia did not use the proceeds in this manner and instead spent the funds on personal expenses for her private benefit. Most of the funds were expended purchasing a large piece of property in the Bozeman area. On May 11, 2020, Garcia transferred $548,000.00 of the loan proceeds to Axilon Law Group as a part of this real estate transaction.
On July 25, 2020, Garcia applied for and was granted forgiveness of the loan. To obtain forgiveness, Garcia falsely claimed to have used the funds for qualified expenses including payroll and business mortgage interest payments. None of these statements were true.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Internal Revenue Service and Small Business Administration conducted the investigation.
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Browning man sentenced for causing death on the Blackfeet Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Browning man who caused a death on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Joseph Wayne Cree Medicine, 41, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of involuntary manslaughter.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on December 7, 2023, Cree Medicine crashed his Dodge Durango. The back seat passenger, John Doe, died as a result. The crash occurred after Cree Medicine left the roadway, overcorrected, and ultimately rolled the vehicle. Montana Highway Patrol conducted the crash investigation and determined Cree Medicine was driving too fast for conditions and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. A blood draw taken at the hospital showed Cree Medicine’s blood contained an alcohol content (BAC) of .137.
EMS treated Doe at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The BIA, Montana Highway Patrol, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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Poplar man sentenced to prison for sexual assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 40 months in prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Chandler Duran Longtree, 19, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of sexual abuse.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 18, 2025, Jane Doe was drinking with a group of young people. She eventually separated from her friend and went with the defendants, Chandler Longtree and Payton Montclair, both 18 at the time, to Longtree’s house. While at the house, she was sexually assaulted by Longtree and Montclair. Doe reported the assault and underwent an exam from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), which revealed evidence consistent with a sexual assault.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who illegally re-entered the United States was sentenced today to time served, 97 days, and was remanded to the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Justino Sanchez-Melo, 42, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Sanchez-Melo was one of four illegal aliens encountered at a hotel in Great Falls on October 10, 2025. Prior to the apprehension and arrests, law enforcement received information regarding possible illegal aliens working in Great Falls, Montana and living at the hotel. Law enforcement conducted surveillance on the location and located numerous vehicles registered to possible illegal aliens with prior removals and without permission to be, work, or live in the United States.
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on October 10, 2025, law enforcement consensually encountered Sanchez-Melo walking near the hotel parking lot. Officers identified themselves and conducted an immigration inspection on Sanchez-Melo. Sanchez-Melo readily admitted to being a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States. At this point, Sanchez-Melo was placed under arrest and was transported to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing.
Sanchez-Melo was advised of his rights. He acknowledged his rights and was unwilling to answer questions without a lawyer present.
The investigation revealed Sanchez-Melo has the following immigration history:
- Originally apprehended and ordered removed by United States Border Patrol on February 24, 2011, and was removed on February 26, 2011, through Calexico, California.
- Encountered on March 14, 2011, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on March 18, 2011, through Del Rio, Texas.
- Encountered on September 2, 2013, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on December 14, 2013, through Eagle Pass, Texas.
- Encountered on May 22, 2023, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on September 19, 2023, through Nogales, Arizona.
Sanchez-Melo has 3 previous federal convictions of 8 U.S.C. § 1325, Improper entry by alien.
There is no indication in the files of Department of Homeland Security that Sanchez-Melo ever applied for or obtained the permission of the United States Attorney General or successor, or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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