District of Montana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Ex-Blackfeet Tribal leader sentenced to prison for Head Start program fraudRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – The former chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe today was sentenced to 10 months in prison and two years of supervised release along with being ordered to pay $174,000 restitution for his role in an overtime pay scheme that stole federal funds from the tribe’s Head Start child assistance program, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Willie Andrew Sharp, 66, of Browning, pleaded guilty in November to wire fraud.
Sharp’s wife, Denise L. Sharp, and three other co-defendants also were convicted in the case. Denise Sharp, who was Head Start’s personnel manager, was sentenced earlier to nine months in prison.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
“The theft of $174,000 hurt the children enrolled in Head Start by prohibiting the purchase of books, barring the ability to obtain teaching materials and cutting food nutrition programs for those who need it most. We will continue to ensure that federal funds are used for the needs of those intended, especially children,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Willie Sharp authorized and approved overtime at the Blackfeet Head Start Program knowing that the overtime claims were false. The falsely claimed overtime pay totaled $174,000 in federal funds for more than 5,800 hours claimed over a 15-month period.
When the fraud was uncovered, two different firms audited the Blackfeet Head Start program. Both audits questioned the overtime claims, identifying them as “beyond necessary and reasonable” and lacking any supporting documentation.
The Blackfeet Tribe did its own internal review, agreed it could not justify the overtime claims and repaid the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $250,620.29 for disallowed costs and other expenses.
In addition to the Sharps, the investigation resulted in the indictment and conviction of Theresa Calf Boss Ribs, Patrick Calf Boss Ribs, Carol Bird and Allen Shane Gross.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on a criminal complaint on March 23 was:
Riccardo Ramos Medina, 33, of Mexico, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medina faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Service and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-3.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 24 was:
Arnold Scott Devous, 67, of Billings, on charges of federal medical officer with conflict of interest. If convicted of the most serious crime, Devous faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Devous was released pending further proceedings. The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-18.
Appearing on March 26 was:
James Kenneth Ward, 57, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ward faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ward was detained pending further proceedings. The Environmental Protection Agency investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 17-6.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 24 was:
Stacey Renee Walker, 37, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walker faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Walker was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-21.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Illegal possession of gun sends Lolo man to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Lolo man who admitted illegally having a gun and ammunition was sentenced today to three years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Francis Carlton Crowley, 34, pleaded guilty in December to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that in May 2018, soon after moving to Montana from Oregon, Crowley’s sister bought a shotgun from a Missoula pawn shop. On July 7, 2018, Crowley showed up at Lolo Hot Springs, where his sister worked, and began threatening people. He said he had a gun and kept reaching into his pockets. Crowley also said he had crashed his car and his baby son, later determined to be his nephew, was in the woods. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies searched the Lolo National Forest for Crowley and the baby. On July 8, 2018, while searching, officers located Crowley’s campsite and saw spent and live shotgun shells and the shotgun his sister had purchased. The investigation also found photographs showing Crowley in possession of the shotgun.
Crowley had prior felony convictions in Oregon and Washington and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Columbia Falls man sentenced to 15 years in sexual exploitation caseRead the Press Release
MISSOULA— A Columbia Falls man who admitted using his Facebook account and mobile phone to seek a sexually explicit image of a minor girl was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Todd Louis Pajnich, 30, pleaded guilty in December to sexual exploitation of a child.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that beginning in January 2019, Pajnich started communicating on Facebook with a 10-year-old girl. In April, Facebook reported potential online sexual exploitation involving the girl’s and Pajnich’s accounts. A law enforcement investigation found records in which Pajnich asked the girl her age and that she told him she was 13. Pajnich then asked the girl to send him a sexually explicit image of herself, which she did. And Pajnich sent the victim a sexually explicit image of a male, purportedly of himself. Pajnich admitted to law enforcement that he knew the victim was a child and that he solicited a sexually explicit image of her.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Billings man charged with sex, drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man accused of sex trafficking and drug distribution crimes was arraigned today on charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Mario Juan Drake, 31, pleaded not guilty to six counts in a 25-count indictment charging four defendants. Co-defendants William Maurice Newkirk, Djavon Lamont King and Dejon Anthony Duncan have been arraigned and have pleaded not guilty.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Drake pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Drake faces a minimum mandatory 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Drake was detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that from about 2018 through 2019, Drake became involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics and in commercial sex and sex trafficking of a minor in Billings and other Montana cities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
Pacer case reference. 20-25.
If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Montana U.s. Attorney Announces More Than $65 Million Available to Fight Human Trafficking and Help Trafficking VictimsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations.
“Human trafficking is a reprehensible crime. Those responsible need to be held accountable and those victimized need help. We hope these funds can be used to accomplish both,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors.
A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future.
Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17351
Total Available $1.8 million
Deadline 4/6/2020 (Extended)
Multidisciplinary Task Force Program to Combat Human Trafficking
Total Available $22 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
Preventing Trafficking of Girls
Total Available $1.7 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons
https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17324
Total Available $2.5 million
Deadline 4/20/2020
Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $16.5 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $2 million
Oens week of 3/16/2020
Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Program
Total Available $5 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking
Total Available $6 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking
Total Available $8 million
Opens week of 3/16/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities
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Montana U.s. Attorney Announces More Than $163 Million Available to Fight Addiction CrisisRead the Press Release
BIILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced that more than $163 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address America’s addiction crisis.
“Montana communities are struggling with methamphetamine and related violent crime. Hopefully, these funds can be used to help stop drug dealers and help prevent and treat addiction,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
“Our nation is facing the difficult challenge of curbing substance addiction, which threatens public safety and is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to prevent overdose deaths and break the cycle of addiction and crime.
A number of funding opportunities that address the addiction crisis are currently open:
Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17098
Total Available $1.75 million Deadline 5/14/2020
Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/COSSAP20
Total Available $27 million Deadline 5/21/2020
Enhancing Community Responses to America's Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims
https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-enhancing-community-responses-to-drug-crisis.pdf
Total Available: $19 million Deadline: 5/4/2020
Family Drug Court Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17090
Total Available $18.2 million Deadline 4/8/2020 (Extended)
Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17754
Total Available $28.1 Deadline 5/5/2020
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17051
Total Available $7.2 million Deadline 4/13/2020 (Extended)
Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-16930
Total Available $48 million Deadline 4/13/2020
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17352
Total Available $9 million Deadline 4/20/2020
Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17275
Total Available $1 million Deadline 4/20/2020
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners
https://bja.ojp.gov/RSAT20
Total Available $4.5 million Deadline 4/6/2020
For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities
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Kalispell man sentenced in Helena armed home robberyRead the Press Release
HELENA—A Kalispell man who admitted participating in a Helena armed home invasion of a couple involved in trafficking heroin was sentenced today to six and one-half years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Morgan Victor Pitsch, 25, pleaded guilty in October to robbery affecting commerce and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon presided.
The prosecution said in court records that the FBI learned of a home invasion in Helena in which the victims, a couple, were involved in trafficking heroin. The couple had been given money by co-defendant, Kielan Brett Franklin, to travel to Washington to buy an ounce of heroin. The couple returned with less than an ounce. When the couple did not immediately turn over the heroin, Franklin sent them threatening text messages.
On March 8, 2019, Franklin, Pitsch and co-defendants Arielle Rose Cowser and Gerald Allen Hiler, went to the couple’s residence. Pitsch possessed a pistol during the robbery, while the others searched for drugs, money and other valuables. The robbers fled when they learned that the female victim had secretly dialed 911. They took a small amount of heroin, the female victim’s wedding ring, cell phone and other items.
Hiler pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in prison. Franklin has pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing. A jury convicted Cowser of robbery charges. Cowser is to be sentenced on June 11.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task Force.
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U.S. Attorney urges the public to report suspected COVID-19 fraudRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address [email protected].
In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes.
“Sadly, there are people trying to take advantage of others during this time of uncertainty when most Montanans are thinking of ways to help. Please be on guard for potential frauds or scams against you and your neighbors and report any suspicious activity,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
Some examples of these schemes include:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
- Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
- Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The District of Montana’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Kakuk.
The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.
To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
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Missoula meth dealer sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Missoula man who admitted to distributing methamphetamine in the community for several years was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Bradley Scott Lane, 37, pleaded guilty in December to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that in October 2018, the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force had an informant buy an ounce of meth from Lane for $800. A DEA lab test determined the product contained a small amount of meth. In an interview with law enforcement, Lane admitted to distributing meth, primarily eight-balls, which is one-eighth of an ounce. In addition other individuals interviewed by law enforcement said they bought meth from Lane from about 2017 to 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thaggard prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Missoula man sentenced to prison for illegally having firearmsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Missoula man who posed with guns on a Facebook page was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Brandon Richmond Turner, 29, pleaded guilty in December to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The prosecution said in court documents that Turner was convicted of a felony in Lake County in January 2017 and prohibited from possessing firearms. In June 2019, Turner’s state probation officer received information that a Facebook page for a sporting goods company in Hamilton had pictures of Turner posing with firearms. The company’s owner reported that Turner had posed for the photographs but that no one at the company knew Turner had a felony conviction. Turner admitted to his probation officer that he had retrieved his own AR-style rifle and a pistol from a friend, who had agreed to keep his guns when he got convicted. The AR rifle appeared to be the same gun Turner held in one of the photos on the Facebook page.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 16 was:
Nicholas James Imhoff, 19, of Cape Coral, FL, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Imhoff faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Imhoff was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-24.
Appearing on March 17 was:
Mitchell Zane Littlelight, 24, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Littlelight faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Littlelight was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-19.
Christopher Darius Larsen, 38, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Larsen faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Larsen was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-21.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 17 was:
Frank Joseph Lira, 56, of Cut Bank, on charges of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lira faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lira was detained pending further proceedings. The Cut Bank Police Department, FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pacer case reference. 20-24.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Great Falls father, son sentenced for meth trafficking, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Great Falls father and son who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community and to illegally possessing firearms were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Gary Girard Sheehan, 68, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison and five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Justin Leonard Sheehan, 44, the son of Gary Sheehan, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months in prison and five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said law enforcement received information that the Sheehans had been distributing meth in the Great Falls community since at least 2016. The father and son would routinely travel to Salt Lake City to pick up large quantities of meth from a supplier for redistribution in Great Falls.
In November 2018, law enforcement received information that the Sheehans were planning a trip to Salt Lake City to buy meth and officers monitored the trip. On Nov. 19, 2018, agents stopped Gary Sheehan’s vehicle on Interstate 15 south of Butte. Gary Sheehan was the driver and Justin Sheehan was in the rear passenger seat. In a search of the vehicle, agents found in the trunk a backpack with two bundles of meth, $9,050 cash and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Each bundle had about a pound of meth. A second backpack found in the backseat of the car contained a loaded .22-caliber handgun and a plastic bag with white residue. A pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,634 doses.
Gary Sheehan was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction in Utah. Agents interviewed individuals who acknowledged getting meth from Justin Sheehan and that he typically carried firearms for his protection in the drug trade.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Fort Belknap Agency man sentenced for domestic abuseRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Fort Belknap Agency man who admitted to being an habitual domestic abuse offender after beating his partner was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison and two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Zachary Shawn Kendall, 27, pleaded guilty in November to domestic abuse by habitual offender.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that Kendall assaulted his intimate and dating partner in March 2019 on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Kendall had a prior domestic violence conviction involving the same victim from an assault in January 2019 and a previous domestic violence conviction involving a different victim in 2012.
On March 31, 2019, tribal officers were dispatched to the couple’s residence, where Kendall was fighting with another man, whom he accused of having a relationship with the victim. Kendall also struck the victim multiple times in the face and body with his fists.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.
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Billings man charged with drug distribution, gun crimes in sex trafficking investigationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man accused of crimes in an investigation into sex trafficking was arraigned today on drug distribution and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Dejon Anthony Duncan, 21, pleaded not guilty to four counts in a 25-count indictment charging multiple defendants. The four counts include distribution of ecstasy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Duncan faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.
The indictment is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Duncan was detained pending further proceedings.
Co-defendants William Maurice Newkirk, 39, and Djavon Lamont King, 29, both of Billings, have pleaded not guilty to multiple sex trafficking and drug counts. Newkirk also pleaded not guilty to firearms counts.
The FBI investigated the case.
Pacer case reference. 20-25.
If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Lame Deer man admits assault charge after shooting woman in the headRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man accused of shooting a woman in the head during an evening of drinking today admitted assault charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Jolson Hubert Bearcomesout, 39, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bearcomesout faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and will recommend that U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters accept Bearcomesout’s plea. Watters is presiding in the case. A sentencing date will be set. Bearcomesout was detained.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said the evidence would show that on June 1, 2019, Bearcomesout, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, and others were at Bearcomesout’s house and drinking.
By evening, the group was in Bearcomesout’s bedroom, where they drank and danced. At one point, Bearcomesout sat in a chair and Jane Doe sat between his legs with her head in his lap. Bearcomesout took a firearm, a 9mm pistol that was on the bed, pointed it at Jane Doe’s head and pulled the trigger. A bullet entered Jane Doe’s neck and exited through the backside of her left shoulder.
Bearcomesout took the pistol and an AR-15 and fled. He was arrested in Forsyth. In an interview with law enforcement, Bearcomesout said he did not know there was a bullet in the chamber and that he was “just fooling around.”
Jane Doe was taken to the Indian Health Service in Lame Deer and ultimately transported to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she was treated for multiple injuries and complications.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Two Billings residents charged in sex trafficking, narcotics, firearms investigationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—Two Billings men accused of crimes stemming from an investigation into sex trafficking, drug distribution and firearms violations were arraigned this week on charges in a multi-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
William Maurice Newkirk, 39, pleaded not guilty today to 15 counts, while co-defendant Djavon Lamont King, 29, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to six counts.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Newkirk and King are detained pending further proceedings.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Newkirk and King face a mandatory minimum 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
The indictment charges Newkirk with 15 counts, including four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking of a minor and by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of a minor, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of cocaine to person under the age of 21, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The indictment charges King with six counts, including two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine to a person under the age of 21.
The indictment alleges that from about 2018 through 2019, the defendants became involved in commercial sex in Billings and the distribution of illegal narcotics. The indictment also alleges that Newkirk illegally possessed firearms during this time.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
Pacer case reference. 20-25.
If the above case are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris and pleading not guilty on March 11 was:
Roderick Kale Ledford, 38, of Great Falls, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ledford faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ledford was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-23.
Appearing on March 10 and pleading not guilty was:
Don Fred Baldwin, 47, of Merced, CA, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth, use of communications facility in causing and facilitating the commission of felonies. If convicted of the most serious crime, Baldwin faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Baldwin was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Merced Police Department and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-05.
Appearing on March 9 and pleading not guilty was:
Jennifer Lee Marie Walkingeagle, 29, of Wolf Point, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walkingeagle faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Walkingeagle was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-15.
Charles Clark, 26, of Wolf Point, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Clark faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Clark was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-20.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on March 12 and pleading not guilty was:
Destiny Lachelle Nilsen, 26, of Billings, on charges of transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nilsen faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Nilsen was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-152.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Utah man convicted of trafficking meth in Kalispell area sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Utah man convicted at trial of trafficking methamphetamine in the Kalispell area was sentenced on Thursday to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
A jury in November found Jeremy David Medbery, 34, of Odgen, Utah, guilty of possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided.
The prosecution presented evidence at the trial that in January 2016, law enforcement agents in the Kalispell area began getting tips about two men, Medbery and co-defendant Christopher George Nomura, who had arrived from California to distribute meth.
In February 2016, an informant made a controlled purchase of meth from Medbery at a casino in Kalispell. After the transaction, police officers followed Medbery, made a traffic stop on Highway 93 and arrested him. Agents executed search warrants on Medbery’s truck and residence. In the truck was a plastic bag with meth residue. A safe in Medbery’s bedroom contained a plastic bag with meth and another bag with residue.
Medbery admitted to officers he drove from California with co-defendant, Christopher Nomura, and brought meth for his personal use. Several days later, Nomura was arrested. Nomura was convicted in the case and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the North Western Drug Task Force, Kalispell Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Polson woman sentenced in meth conspiracy caseRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Polson woman who admitted distributing methamphetamine in 2019 was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Brook Nicole Deneault, 27, pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The prosecution said evidence would show that in June 2019, the Polson Police Department made a traffic stop of a vehicle Deneault was driving. In a search of the vehicle, officers found meth, currency, a drug ledger and paraphernalia. A few days later, the Ronan Police Department made a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Deneault was a passenger. In a search of that vehicle, officers found meth in Deneault’s personal possessions. Deneault admitted that the drugs found in the vehicle were hers and that she distributed meth between April and July of 2019.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on March 6 was:
Billy Dean Smith, 55, of Big Arm, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Smith faces a minimum 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Smith was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-16.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 2 was:
Douglas Floyd Main, 33, of Harlem, on charges of strangulation and domestic abuse by habitual offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Main faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Main was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-14.
Appearing on March 5 was:
Billie Jo Myo, 40, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Myo faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and three years of supervised release. Myo was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-08.
Robert Matthew Paul Mitchell, Sr., 44, of Box Elder, on charges of failure to register. If convicted of the most serious crime, Mitchell faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Mitchell was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-07.
Clayton Gary Bailey, 48, and Brigitte Ann Bailey, 43, both of Big Sandy, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, the Baileys face a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-04.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 5 was:
Charles Allen Wallette, 58, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wallette faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. Wallette was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-12.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
Helena man sentenced for illegal firearms possessionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Helena man convicted at trial of illegally possessing firearms was sentenced today to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
A jury in October found Brandon Best Gordon, 32, of Helena, guilty of felon in possession of a firearm after a two-day trial.
U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, of Wyoming, presided.
At trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Gordon, a convicted felon, possessed two firearms in Park and Sweet Grass counties on July 17, 2018. The firearms had been stolen earlier in two separate break-ins in Great Falls. The firearms were identified as a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
The firearms were in a backpack Gordon was carrying when he left a suspected drug house in Livingston and got into a vehicle that was being followed by Park County Sheriff’s Office detectives. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper, who was familiar with the vehicle and its driver from previous drug activity information, stopped the vehicle for traffic violations. Gordon was a passenger. Law enforcement served a state search warrant on the vehicle and found the backpack with the firearms. Gordon was convicted in 2012 of felony crimes in Montana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Montana Highway Patrol.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person
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Anaconda man sentenced for illegal firearm possession after admitting to making a bombRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—An Anaconda man who admitted making a bomb was sentenced today to four years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Maxie Richard Arthur, 43, pleaded guilty in November to possession of an unregistered firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Arthur possessed a destructive device, a bomb, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. In August 2019, law enforcement arrested Arthur on another offense and in a search of his residence, found firearms and a bomb made by Arthur.
Arthur acknowledged to law enforcement he made the bomb and that he and a friend were going to buy zombie mannequins that bleed to see what the bomb did when it blew up. He also acknowledged, buying, possessing and shooting the firearms and that because he was a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing them.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Lodge Pole man sentenced for assaulting girlfriendRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Lodge Pole man convicted at trial for assaulting his girlfriend on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
A jury found Jeremy Davis Wing, 40, guilty of domestic abuse by habitual offender.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
During a trial in November, the prosecution presented evidence that Wing physically assaulted his girlfriend on May 19, 2018 and into the next day. Wing and the victim were living together at the time of the assault. The two were drinking alcohol with another man and woman when the couple argued. Wing became violent with the victim and also told the woman to beat up on the victim. Both Wing and the woman assaulted the victim. At trial, the parties stipulated that Wing had at least two prior separate domestic assault convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Cobell and Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.
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Kalispell woman sentenced for meth dealingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Kalispell woman who admitted bringing methamphetamine from Washington to distribute in Montana was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Carly Deann Halcro, 36, pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said law enforcement received information in April 2018 that Halcro was traveling to Washington to get multiple pounds of meth for redistribution. Halcro traveled to Spokane in June 2018. Law enforcement got a search warrant for Halcro’s vehicle, conducted a traffic stop when she returned to Montana and found about one pound of pure meth in the vehicle. One pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,624 doses.
Halcro admitted in an interview that she had been receiving pound quantities of meth from a source of supply.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Billings meth dealer sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man who admitted possessing methamphetamine for distribution was sentenced today to 48 months in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Michael Alan McNulty, 55, pleaded guilty in October to possession with intent to distribute.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters also ordered McNulty to forfeit $5,895.
The prosecution said in court records that McNulty was arrested after law enforcement observed suspected drug sales occurring at several Billings residences. Officers followed a truck registered to McNulty as it left one residence and went to another residence, where McNulty and a female driver left the truck, entered the residence and left about 15 minutes later. The truck then went to another residence known to officers to be associated with illegal drug sales. McNulty entered that residence, left about five minutes later and got back into the truck, which drove away.
Officers stopped the truck after observing it make several traffic violations. McNulty consented to a search of the truck and officers found meth. McNulty also said he had a couple of ounces of meth on his person, which officers confirmed by searching him. In addition, McNulty admitted he had sold a gram of meth at the previous residence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Jury convicts Billings man in meth trafficking trialRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A jury on Tuesday convicted a Billings man accused of bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to the community for redistribution and possessing firearms to further the crime, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The jury found Maurice Joseph Fregia, 33, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The two-day trial began on Monday.
Fregia faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug crimes and a mandatory consecutive five years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm possession crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Sentencing is set for July 23. Fregia was detained.
“Meth dealers with firearms are causing violence in our communities and pushing Montanans toward addiction. We will continue to prosecute dealers like Fregia and his co-conspirators to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten, along with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the FBI and the Billings Police Department for their good work investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
The prosecution presented evidence at trial that Fregia, along with co-defendant Chad Beres, headed a large drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of meth and other drugs into Montana from California. In April 2018, law enforcement officers with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force served three search warrants on three Billings residences, including a house where Fregia and Beres lived. Both Fregia and Beres were present during the search. Officers found almost 700 grams of meth, which is about 1.5 pounds and about 5,600 doses, sticking out of a clothes dryer vent, $14,538 in currency, jewelry, including a Rolex watch in Beres’ room, other drugs and various firearms and ammunition. Beres pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
During the search of a second residence, occupied by co-defendant Larry Barnett, agents found meth and a handgun. Barnett, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, admitted he had received multiple pounds of meth from Fregia and Beres and had seen both men with firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the FBI and the Billings Police Department.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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U.S. Department of Justice to host Protecting Places of Worship Forum in BozemanRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—The U.S. Attorney’s Office is hosting a training program on Thursday, March 12, at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Bozeman to share best practices for security at places of worship.
The Protecting Places of Worship Forum will be offered in two sessions. The first session will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the second session will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Pilgrim Congregational Church is located at 2118 S. 3rd Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715.
The free interfaith meeting will provide faith-based leaders and community members an opportunity to discuss and learn how to prevent and respond to hate crimes against places of worship. Topics will include an overview of religious hate crimes, preventing and responding to active shooter situations, hate crimes statistics and symbols and securing places of worship.
Invited speakers include U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and representatives from the FBI, Gallatin County Sheriff’s and County Attorney’s offices, Bozeman Police Department and area churches.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office organized the program.
All faith-based community leaders and members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by March 10 to Brendan McCarthy, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, 406-247-4656, [email protected] or Rosa Salamanca, Senior Conciliation Specialist, Community Relations Service, 303-844-2974, [email protected].
For more information on DOJ’s Community Relations Service, visit www.justice.gov/crs, on Twitter @DOJ_CRS or Facebook at facebook.com/DOJCRS/.
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Montana law enforcement leaders to head Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive BoardRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation Administrator Bryan Lockerby have been appointed to head the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) Executive Board.
Administrator Lockerby is the chairman, and U.S. Attorney Alme is the vice chair. Alme will serve as chairman next year. Alme, Lockerby and Billings Police Chief Rich St. John also serve as the Montana Executive Subcommittee for the RMHIDTA.
The RMHIDTA, based in Denver, CO, brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to target large drug-trafficking organizations. Montana, along with Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are part of the RMHIDTA. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy oversees 29 HIDTA programs nationwide.
RMHIDTA’s Executive Board is responsible for identifying major threats, developing strategies to address those threats and allocating funds to the various drug task forces that have HIDTA designation. The Executive Board also is responsible for policy and procedures, assuring annual fiscal and operational audits are completed and that HIDTA task forces meet expectations.
“It’s an honor to be selected to lead the four Rocky Mountain states during such a critical time,” Lockerby said. “State borders mean little to drug traffickers and so interagency cooperation on regional strategies is the best way to disrupt illicit drug operations. As a task force our goal is to provide law enforcement professionals in the Rocky Mountains states with tools that will help them do their critical work.”
RMHIDTA Director Tom Gorman praised Montana’s leadership and law enforcement community. “I’m from the East Coast and did 30 years of law enforcement in California. I have learned a great deal about relationships in Montana’s criminal justice system. They are highly motivated and work well together,” Gorman said.
“I can’t say enough about U.S. Attorney Alme, DCI Administrator Lockerby and Billings Police Chief Rich St. John for their support, guidance and always striving to make things better. Honestly, they can be a pain but always for the right reason, and that is to make our program more effective and efficient. They keep staff hopping and on their toes, which is a good thing,” Gorman said.
“Meth and other drugs are causing violent crime and many other serious problems,” U.S. Attorney Alme said. “Along with effective prevention and treatment, we need to remove these dangerous dealers from our communities. I am honored to work with Administrator Lockerby, Director Gorman and all the men and women of the task forces who work hard every day to keep these poisons out of our communities.”
Montana plays a major role in the program, with five HIDTA task forces, a Montana Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction program and a prevention and treatment component of drug policy. Montana’s law enforcement also participates in the leadership of the program. For the past 10 years, a key committee that manages budgets and allocation of funds has been chaired by Chief St. John and more recently by Administrator Lockerby.
MHIDTA manages 23 multi-agency drug task forces, four criminal interdiction programs, training, intelligence and management initiatives. This includes 10 federal, 15 state and 109 local agencies with a total of more than 500 full-time sworn personnel and 50 support personnel, including analysts. These task forces annually average dismantling or disrupting more than 100 international, multi-state or local drug-trafficking organizations.
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Billings man admits conspiracy charges after law enforcement finds 32 pounds of meth in residence, vehicle searchRead the Press Release
BILLINGS–A Billings man admitted conspiracy charges today after agents investigating methamphetamine trafficking found 32 pounds of meth and $11,380 in cash at his residence, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Byrne Martin Mestas, 62, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth. Mestas faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Mestas is detained.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and recommended that Mestas’ plea be accepted by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, who is hearing the case.
The prosecution said in court records that an investigation into meth trafficking led to Mestas and a co-defendant, Jerry Ray Schuster, of Billings. Schuster pleaded guilty to trafficking crimes in January and is awaiting sentencing.
Law enforcement served a search warrant at Schuster’s and Mestas’ trailer on May 3, 2019. Agents found in the residence a pound of meth, three rifles, drug paraphernalia and receipts corroborating trips to California. A pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,624 doses. Thirty two pounds of meth is about 115,968 doses.
Agents served a search warrant three days later on four vehicles at the residence. A search of a Suzuki Swift registered to Schuster revealed 30 pounds of meth located in three backpacks, along with $11,380 in cash and receipts documenting travel to California. In the other three vehicles, agents found about a pound of meth, 100 pills, cash and other items.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI task force and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Announces Tribal Consultations and Listening SessionsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Presidential Task force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives announced a series of field consultations and listening sessions to occur across the United States in the coming months.
One of the consultations will be held on July 7 in Billings, Mt.
American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high rates of violence. President Trump has called the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans “sobering and heartbreaking.” The task force, designated Operation Lady Justice, has been empowered to review Indian Country cold cases, to strengthen law enforcement protocols, and work with tribes to improve investigations, information sharing and a more seamless response to missing persons investigations.
Confirmed Dates and Locations
March 2 Department of Health and Human Services
3:00-4:30 Administration for Children & Families Tribal Advisory Council Mtg.
Washington D.C. Listening Session (CLOSED PRESS)
March 12 Tribal Interior Budget Council Listening Session
10:30-12:30 Washington, DC (CLOSED PRESS)
March 17 United South & Eastern Tribes (USET),
2:00-5:00 Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes (MAST) Listening Session
Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, D.C.
March 24 Muscogee Creek Listening Session
9:00-4:00 River Spirit Casino
8330 Riverside Parkway, Tulsa, OK
March 31 38th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference Listening Session
10:30-noon Marriott Denver Tech Center- Host Hotel
Denver, CO (CLOSED PRESS)
April 15 Pascua Yaqui Listening Session
9:00-4:00 Casino Del Sol
5655 W. Valencia Rd., Tucson, AZ
April 21 Sycuan Band, California Listening Session
1:30-5:00 3 Kwaaypaay Court, El Cajon, CA
April 28 National Indian Programs Training Center - CONSULTATION
9:00-3:00 1101 Indian School Road NW, rooms 233-234
Albuquerque, NM
May 12 Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Listening Session
9:00-4:00 Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd, Acme Township, MI
May 21 Yakama Nation, Washington Listening Session
9:00-4:00 Legends Casino and Hotel
580 Fort Road, Toppenish WA
June 7 – 11 Anchorage, Alaska – CONSULTATION
Date and Location TBD
June 16 North Dakota/South Dakota Listening Session
10:00-4:00 North Dakota Heritage Center
Bismarck, ND
June 23 Women are Sacred Conference Listening Session
5:00-9:00 pm Intercontinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel
11 E. Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN
July 7 Billings, Montana - CONSULTATION
9:00-4:00 Double Tree Hotel, 27 N 27th, Billings, MT
The members of the task force are:
- Katharine Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, designee for the Attorney General;
- Tara Sweeney, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, designee for the Secretary of the Interior;
- Terry Wade, Executive Assistant Director, Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch, Federal Bureau of Investigation;
- Laura Rogers, Acting Director, Office on Violence Against Women;
- Charles Addington, Deputy Bureau Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services;
- Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee; and
- Jean Hovland, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Native American Affairs and Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, Department of Health and Human Services.
Marcia Good of the Department of Justice serves as the Executive Director of the task force. The task force will present a progress report to the President by Nov. 26, 2020, and a final report detailing its activities and accomplishments by Nov. 26, 2021.
NOTE: All sessions will be open to the public and the press unless otherwise designated. As a general rule, each consultation and listening session will include a task force media availability. Opening remarks will be open for audio and visual recording. However, the duration of the testimony by participants will be recordable by pen and pad only.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of the Department of Justice at www.justice.gov/history. 2020 also marks 171st anniversary of the Department of the Interior.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Feb. 27 was:
Augustus Christopher Wolfback, 18, of Lodge Grass, on charges of assault by strangulation of a dating partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wolfback faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Wolfback was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-22.
Samuel Richard Bonko, 34, of Garryowen, on charges of failure to register as a sexual offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bonko faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Bonko was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-79.
Jordan Lee Larue, 26, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and receipt of a firearm by person under indictment for felony. If convicted of the most serious crime, Larue faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Larue was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-147.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
Appearing on Feb. 25 were:
Brandon Thomas Houdashelt, 32, of Clyde Park, on charges of distribution of controlled substances causing death and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Houdashelt faces 20 years to life in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Houdashelt was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-188.
James Robert Patterson, 21, of Billings, on charges of coercion and enticement. If convicted of the most serious crime, Patterson faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Patterson was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-20.
Christopher Cleveland, 40, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cleveland faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Cleveland was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-15.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
Appearing on criminal complaints on Feb. 25 were:
Maliyah Jae Chavez, 19, of Billings, on charges of possession of stolen firearms. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chavez faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chavez was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-18.
Rodrigo Gomez, 18, of Billings, on charges of possession of stolen firearms. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gomez faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Gomez was detained pending further proceedings. Pacer case reference. 20-19.
These cases are part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Former Indian Health Services doctor charged with conflict of interestRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A former doctor with Indian Health Services in Browning was indicted on charges of conflict of interest for allegedly using his job to prescribe a diabetes drug from a pharmacy in exchange for kickbacks, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
An indictment filed on Feb. 26 charges Dr. Arnold Scott Devous, 67, of Billings, with federal medical officer with conflict of interest. If convicted of the most serious crime, Devous faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
An arraignment is set for March 26 in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston.
The indictment is merely an accusation. Devous remains innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment alleges Devous used his position as a medical officer for Indian Health Services in Browning to prescribe Farxiga, a Type 2 diabetes medication. Farxiga was not on the IHS formulary and could not be obtained at the facility.
The indictment further alleges that from about December 2015 to June 2016 in Teton and Glacier counties, Devous prescribed Farxiga to patients and entered into a business arrangement with a pharmacy in Choteau in which he, his wife and a person with whom he had been negotiating a prospective job would receive 80 percent of the profits of the sale of Farxiga from the pharmacy. The arrangement resulted in the receipt of about $45,590.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Pacer case reference. 20-18.
If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Washington woman sentenced for role in meth trafficking ringRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Washington woman who admitted trafficking methamphetamine as part of a large drug distribution ring was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Sadie Allen Hackett, 29, of Glenwood, WA, pleaded guilty in October to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Hackett was an active member of a meth trafficking ring led by Joshua Clause. Clause pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearms crimes and was sentenced last year to 15 years in prison. In July 2018, a Billings Police officer made a traffic stop in which Hackett was a front seat passenger. The officer became suspicious and eventually deployed a K-9 dog, which indicated for the presence of narcotics. Law enforcement impounded the vehicle and got a warrant to search the car.
Law enforcement found a half-pound of meth and a large amount of cash in the front glove box. Hackett’s purse was found and it contained more meth. The driver said he saw Hackett place items in the glove box, including the money.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Billings Police Department, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Montana Highway Patrol.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Helena resident sentenced for armed home invasionRead the Press Release
HELENA—A Helena man who admitted brandishing a firearm while he and co-defendants robbed a couple involved in trafficking heroin was sentenced today to 11 years and seven months in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Gerald Allen Hiler, also known as Teg, 47, pleaded guilty in October to robbery affecting commerce and to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon presided.
The prosecution said in court records that the FBI learned of a home invasion in Helena in which the victims, a couple, were involved in trafficking heroin. The couple had been given money by co-defendant, Kielan Brett Franklin, to travel to Washington to buy an ounce of heroin. The couple returned with less than an ounce. When the couple did not immediately turn over the heroin, Franklin sent them threatening text messages.
On March 8, 2019, Hiler, Franklin, and co-defendants Morgan Victor Pitsch and Arielle Rose Cowser, went to the couple’s residence. Hiler brandished a pistol during the robbery as the others searched for drugs, money and other valuables. When he learned that the female victim had secretly dialed 911, the robbers fled the home with a small amount of heroin, the female victim’s wedding ring, cell phone and other items. Hiler and Pitsch wore masks.
Franklin and Pitsch have pleaded guilty to charges and are awaiting sentencing. A jury last week convicted Cowser of robbery charges. Cowser is to be sentenced on June 11.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Browning woman sentenced in crash that injured twoRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS—A Browning woman who admitted she had been drinking and driving when she crashed a truck on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and injured two passengers was sentenced today to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lisa Marie Skunkcap, 37, pleaded guilty in November to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The prosecution said in court records that the crash happened on the afternoon of April 23, 2019 when Skunkcap and others were drinking and driving around Browning. Skunkcap lost control of the truck she was driving. The vehicle went off the road and rolled. Skunkcap and two passengers were ejected and lost consciousness.
Skunkcap told investigators that she had been driving and admitted having consumed alcohol. Her blood alcohol concentration was .20 at the time of the crash. Both ejected passengers suffered serious injuries, including broken bones. One passenger was transferred to Seattle for treatment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Montana Highway Patrol.
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Former assistant basketball coach charged with sexual exploitation of childRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A former assistant basketball coach at Stonechild College on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was arraigned today on an indictment accusing him of crimes involving sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Christopher Brown, 31, of Box Elder, pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of child pornography and sexual abuse of a minor.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Brown faces a mandatory minimum 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release.
The indictment is merely an accusation. Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. Brown is detained pending further proceedings.
Brown, who worked as an assistant basketball coach at Stonechild College, initially was charged by a criminal complaint with sexual abuse of a minor.
The indictment alleges that in January in Hill County and on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Brown sexually exploited a child and used a cell phone to transport an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also alleges that between July 2018 and January 2020, Brown engaged in a sexual act with a minor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department.
Pacer case reference. 20-12.
If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Missoula man sentenced for meth traffickingRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Missoula man was sentenced to today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conviction on methamphetamine trafficking charges after law enforcement found two safes containing the drug in a vehicle he was driving, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
David Edward Holcomb, 36, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth in November.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The prosecution said in court records that law enforcement made a traffic stop of a vehicle Holcomb was driving on Feb. 16, 2019 in Missoula. Officers found two safes in the vehicle during a search and got a search warrant for the safes. The safes contained meth and drug paraphernalia. The investigation also determined that Holcomb confirmed to an individual there was meth in the safe and that he planned to distribute it.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on a criminal complaint on Feb. 18 was:
Nicholas James Imhoff, 29, of Cape Floral, FL, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Imhoff faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Imhoff was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-13.
Appearing on Feb. 20 and pleading not guilty was:
Anfernee Jamal Limberhand, also known as Anfernee Jamal Whiteman, 21, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating or intimate partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Limberhand faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Limberhand was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-11.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Feb. 18 was:
Anna Michelle Niles, 47, of Bozeman, on charges of wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Niles faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Niles was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-2.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Feb. 18 was:
Dakota Black Elk Houle, 22, on charges of possession of unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Houle faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Houle was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person. Pacer case reference. 19-25.
If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Billings meth trafficker sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
BILLINGS—A Billings man convicted at a bench trial of methamphetamine distribution crimes was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters in July found Darrell Franklin Holliday, 48, guilty of possession with intent to distribute meth and two counts of distribution of meth as charged in an indictment. Judge Watters presided at sentencing.
During the bench trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Holliday was distributing meth in the Billings area in August and September 2017. Investigators conducted two controlled buys of methamphetamine from Holliday during this period. In a recorded statement to officers, Holliday admitted he used meth daily when he had the chance. Holliday also made incriminating statements in recorded jail calls.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the FBI.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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Jury convicts Helena woman of robbery over heroin traffickingRead the Press Release
HELENA—A jury on Thursday convicted a Helena woman accused of participating in an armed home invasion to rob a couple involved in trafficking heroin, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The jury found Arielle Rose Cowser, 27, guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting commerce and robbery affecting commerce. The jury acquitted Cowser of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Cowser faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release. The three-day trial began on Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. Sentencing is set for June 11. Cowser was released pending sentencing.
“Drug trafficking not only is illegal but also dangerous and leads to violence among those involved in the trade. We will prosecute drug-related robberies to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson along with the FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task Force for investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
In evidence presented at trial, the prosecution said the FBI learned of a home invasion robbery in Helena in which the victims, a couple, were involved in trafficking heroin. Co-defendant Kielan Brett Franklin, who has pleaded guilty, provided the couple money to travel to Washington to buy an ounce of heroin. The couple returned to Montana with less than an ounce. When the couple did not immediately turn over the heroin, Franklin sent them threatening text messages.
On March 8, 2019, Cowser went to the victims’ residence and asked to enter, saying she had broken up with Franklin. The female victim let Cowser inside and a few minutes later, Cowser let in Franklin and two other co-defendants, Gerald Allen Hiler and Morgan Victor Pitsch. Hiler and Pitsch, who have pleaded guilty, wore masks.
Hiler brandished a handgun and Pitsch possessed one during the robbery. The defendants fled when they realized the female victim had called 911. The robbers took a small amount of heroin, the female victim’s wedding ring, her cell phone and a purse.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
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Former tribal police officer admits child abuse on Fort Peck ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS– A Wolf Point man and former tribal police officer accused of touching a child’s genitals on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Mychal Thomas Damon, 28, pleaded guilty to felony child abuse. Damon faces a maximum five years in prison, a $50,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and set sentencing for June 18. Damon was detained.
The prosecution said in court records that the crime occurred in May 2018 when the victim, who was under the age of 14, and her mother spent the night at Damon’s house. During the night, the victim got up and sat with Damon on a recliner. Damon placed his hand inside the girl’s shorts and touched her in the genital area.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cassady Adams and Lori Suek are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Wolf Point Police Department.
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In Settlement with United States and Montana, Atlantic Richfield Agrees to Framework for Cleanup of Mining Contamination in Butte, MontanaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Justice Department, announced the release of the Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (BPSOU) consent decree. This document provides the framework for the continued cleanup of mining-related contamination to protect public health and the environment in Butte and Walkerville, Montana.
The consent decree requires Atlantic Richfield to undertake or finance over $150 million in cleanup actions, provide financial assurances for future cleanup actions, and provide enhanced community benefits through the implementation of end land use plans along the Silver Bow Creek Corridor.
Additionally, EPA Region 8 is releasing an amendment to the 2006 Record of Decision for the BPSOU Operable Unit in this matter that will expand cleanup efforts. The amendment will require the removal of contaminated tailings at the Northside and Diggings East Tailings areas and contaminated sediment and additional floodplain contamination from Silver Bow and Blacktail Creeks. The amendment will also require the treatment of more contaminated stormwater before it flows into the creeks, and the capture and treatment additional contaminated groundwater. Once executed by the parties and entered by the Court, the consent decree will implement this amended remedy.
The release of the consent decree will provide the commissioners of Butte Silver Bow County – who must approve the document before it can be submitted to the court – an opportunity to consider the document in a public forum. This process allows Butte Silver Bow County to inform and educate the public and the county commissioners about the content of the consent decree. Once that process concludes, the county commissioners will vote on whether to approve the document.
“Montanans value clean water not just to drink, but to sustain our rich and beautiful environment,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme for the District of Montana. “I applaud the work of the negotiating teams from the Justice Department, EPA, the state of Montana, Butte Silver Bow County and Atlantic Richfield in completing this complex agreement. We look forward to the cleanup proceeding with all speed.”
“I am very pleased to announce the release of the proposed Consent Decree and Amended Record of Decision to the Butte community,” said EPA Region 8 Administrator Gregory Sopkin. “These documents secure the financial resources and actions for the continued cleanup of open space, residential areas, creeks and groundwater across the community. They reflect EPA’s commitment to work diligently to complete the cleanup after nearly four decades of Superfund in the great town of Butte.”
Once all consent decree signatures are obtained, the consent decree documents will be lodged with the federal district court of Montana. The Justice Department will publish a formal notice in the Federal Register, stating that the department is accepting public comment on the document for a period of thirty days from the date the notice is published. Under State law, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is also required to hold a public comment period on the consent decree, which will run concurrently.
While the public comment period will not start until after the consent decree is lodged with the court, EPA, the state, Butte Silver Bow County, and Atlantic Richfield have posted the document on their websites, and paper copies will be made available at the Montana Tech Library (1300 W. Park St.) and Citizens Technical Environmental Committee (27 W. Park St.) for public review at www.epa.gov/superfund/silver-bow-butte.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
In Settlement with United States and Montana, Atlantic Richfield Agrees to Framework for Cleanup of Mining Contamination in Butte, MontanaRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Justice Department, announced the release of the Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (BPSOU) consent decree. This document provides the framework for the continued cleanup of mining-related contamination to protect public health and the environment in Butte and Walkerville, Montana.
The consent decree requires Atlantic Richfield to undertake or finance over $150 million in cleanup actions, provide financial assurances for future cleanup actions, and provide enhanced community benefits through the implementation of end land use plans along the Silver Bow Creek Corridor.
Additionally, EPA Region 8 is releasing an amendment to the 2006 Record of Decision for the BPSOU that will expand cleanup efforts. The amendment will require the removal of contaminated tailings at the Northside and Diggings East Tailings areas as well as contaminated sediment and additional floodplain contamination from Silver Bow and Blacktail Creeks. The amendment will also require the treatment of more contaminated storm water before it flows into the creeks, and the capture and treatment of additional contaminated groundwater. Once executed by the parties and entered by the court, the consent decree will implement this amended remedy.
The release of the consent decree will provide the commissioners of Butte Silver Bow County – who must approve the document before it can be submitted to the court – an opportunity to consider the document in a public forum. This process allows Butte Silver Bow County to inform and educate the public and the county commissioners about the content of the consent decree. Once that process concludes, the county commissioners will vote on whether to approve the document.
“Montanans value clean water not just to drink, but to sustain our rich and beautiful environment,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme for the District of Montana. “I applaud the work of the negotiating teams from the Justice Department, EPA, the state of Montana, Butte Silver Bow County and Atlantic Richfield in completing this complex agreement. We look forward to the cleanup proceeding with all speed.”
“I am very pleased to announce the release of the proposed Consent Decree and Amended Record of Decision to the Butte community,” said EPA Region 8 Administrator Gregory Sopkin. “These documents secure the financial resources and actions for the continued cleanup of open space, residential areas, creeks and groundwater across the community. They reflect EPA’s commitment to work diligently to complete the cleanup after nearly four decades of Superfund in the great town of Butte.”
Once all consent decree signatures are obtained, the consent decree documents will be lodged with the federal district court of Montana. The Justice Department will publish a formal notice in the Federal Register, stating that the department is accepting public comment on the document for a period of 30 days from the date the notice is published. Under State law, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality is also required to hold a public comment period on the consent decree, which will run concurrently.
While the public comment period will not start until after the consent decree is lodged with the court, EPA, the state, Butte Silver Bow County, and Atlantic Richfield have posted the document on their websites, and paper copies will be made available at the Montana Tech Library (1300 W. Park St.) and Citizens Technical Environmental Committee (27 W. Park St.) for public review at www.epa.gov/superfund/silver-bow-butte.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Jury convicts Billings man in large methamphetamine conspiracyRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A jury today convicted a Billings man of methamphetamine crimes for his role in a large trafficking organization that brought hundreds of pounds of the drug into Montana, U.S Attorney Kurt Alme said today.
The jury found Nicholas John Montano, 34, of Billings, guilty of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute as charged in an indictment. The trial began on Monday.
Montano faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and set sentencing for June 24. Montano remains in custody.
“Mr. Montano worked with others to distribute an enormous amount of this highly-addictive poison into our communities. We are committed to dismantling these meth trafficking organizations and prosecuting all members. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Tom Godfrey, along with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration for investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
The prosecution presented evidence at trial that in the spring and summer of 2018, Montano received meth from Joshua Clause, who was the head of a large drug trafficking ring that imported hundreds of pounds of meth into Montana. Clause has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence. Clause met Montano through another person, and after Clause and that person had a falling out, Clause contacted Montano, who began to receive meth from Clause for redistribution.
Clause told law enforcement that he supplied Montano with a quarter-pound to one pound of meth each time he restocked. Clause and Montano also traveled once together to Bakersfield, CA, where Clause got meth from a supplier. Clause supplied Montano with approximately 10 to 15 pounds of meth during their association. Fifteen pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 54,360 doses.
Law enforcement officers arrested Montano in Billings on a federal warrant on Aug. 19, 2018 after he fled in a stolen vehicle. Officers tracked Montano to an apartment complex, where he went to all three floors and hid in woman’s apartment. When arrested, Montano had on him $1,645 cash. Officers also found a bag containing about 92 grams of meth they believed Montano had discarded as he was running. He admitted he had been on all three floors and possessed a small amount of meth.
Four days earlier, Billings Police Officers responded to a 911 call about a blocked vehicle at a restaurant and, at the request of the vehicle’s owner, removed a bag that belonged to Montano. Officers took the bag into their custody and, following policy, opened it to ensure it did not contain hazardous materials. The bag contained approximately 32 grams of meth, a wallet with $3,075, a syringe, a loaded 9mm magazine and Montano’s identification information.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Tom Godfrey are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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East Glacier Park man convicted at trial of involuntary manslaughter, assault in vehicle crashRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A jury today convicted an East Glacier Park man accused of killing one passenger and seriously injuring a second passenger after he had been drinking and driving and crashed in Glacier National Park last year, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The jury found Leo James Hagan, 19, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Hagan faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the manslaughter charge and a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris set sentencing for June 3 and continued Hagan’s release.
The trial began on Monday.
“Drinking and driving often ends tragically. We will prosecute those who do so to the full extent of the law to ensure that we keep our national parks safe. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah Paisley and Ethan Plaut, along with the National Park Service, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Medical Services, the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol for investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
In evidence presented at trial, the prosecution said the crash occurred on June 11, 2019, on Two Medicine Road, near Lower Two Medicine Lake, about 200 yards inside of Glacier National Park. Hagan, and the two victims had been socializing at the Trailhead Saloon in East Glacier that night, and Hagan had consumed alcohol. The three left the saloon and traveled toward Two Medicine Lake with Hagan driving a Ford Escape. One passenger was in the front seat and one passenger was in the rear seat.
Hagan lost control of the vehicle, failed to negotiate a sharp left turn, went off the road and hit a tree. The vehicle spun and rolled and came to rest on the driver’s side. The front seat passenger was ejected and suffered severe injuries. The rear seat passenger also was ejected, pinned under the vehicle and died at the scene.
Hagan, the prosecution said, traveled on foot back toward his residence and called 911 on his cell phone. He reported there had been a crash and implied that he had come upon the scene and was otherwise not involved. He reported seeing one injured person but not his involvement, the cause or that a passenger had died.
The Glacier County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 911 call but struggled to find the scene initially because of the vague description Hagan had provided to the dispatcher. While looking for the crash, a deputy spotted a man, later identified as Hagan, walking along the road. Hagan did not try to flag down the marked vehicle. Deputies found the crash scene about two minutes later.
The injured passenger told officers there had been three people in the vehicle, which prompted law enforcement to look for Hagan.
A Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services officer found Hagan at his residence at about 2:30 a.m., and Hagan confirmed he had been in the crash. Hagan admitted he had been driving and refused medical treatment. A Montana Highway Patrol trooper began a drunken driving investigation, and Hagan admitted to a park service ranger that he had been driving and that the group had been drinking at the bar.
Hagan told law enforcement that the front seat passenger had put him in a headlock while he was driving and that he was traveling at 30 mph. Hagan was eventually transported to the Indian Health Service where a blood draw determined his blood alcohol level was .093 percent.
The injured passenger told law enforcement that nobody was “horsing around” in the vehicle, but that he also did not remember most of the events of that night.
A crash investigation determined that the vehicle was traveling more than 70 mph in a 45 mph speed zone when it crashed, that the driver never applied the brakes and that neither Hagan nor the front passenger was wearing a seatbelt. Hagan had claimed he was wearing a seatbelt and had braked.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah Paisley and Ethan Plaut are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Medical Services, the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol.
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Informational: Federal Court arraignmentsRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Feb. 4 was:
Joshua Daniel Baker, 33, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Baker faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Baker was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.
Pacer case reference. 20-01.
If the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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Two Mexican citizens admit roles in transporting aliens from Canada into MontanaRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – Two Mexico citizens who were arrested in Glacier County by Border Patrol agents investigating suspected alien smuggling from Canada pleaded guilty on Tuesday to illegally transporting aliens, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Alberto Guillen-Gordillo, 23, and Samuel Velasco-Tovar, 28, each pleaded guilty to transportation of illegal aliens. Each defendant faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and set sentencing for May 5. Guillen-Gordillo and Velasco-Tovar remain detained.
The prosecution said in court records that on Nov. 17 at about 11:15 p.m., Border Patrol agents conducted traffic stops of two vehicles south of the United States-Canada border in Glacier County. In the first vehicle, which was a Chevrolet Suburban, the agent found the driver and nine passengers. All of the passengers admitted to being in the United States illegally. During the stop of the second vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, all of the occupants ran into a nearby field. Agents found eight individuals within one to two minutes. Each of the individuals admitted to being in the United States illegally.
In all, law enforcement transported 19 suspects to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for processing. Four of the transported illegal aliens told agents they had paid from $4,000 to $4,750 to be smuggled into the United States and identified Velasco-Tovar as the foot guide who helped them cross into the United States.
Shortly after the arrests, a Border Patrol agent and Glacier County Sheriff’s deputy went to a Cut Bank hotel where the subjects had been staying to determine if any remaining occupant in one of the hotel rooms was in violation of trafficking laws. Guillen-Gordillo answered the door, identified himself and was taken into custody. Guillen-Gordillo admitted to being in the United States illegally. He rented the Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Tahoe from a Utah car rental company. A co-defendant identified Guillen-Gordillo as the driver of a third vehicle but that he stayed at the hotel because he was not feeling well.
A third co-defendant, Josue Bermudez-Lopez, of Mexico, pleaded guilty in December to illegally transporting aliens and is awaiting sentencing, while a fourth co-defendant has pleaded not guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paulette Stewart, Jeff Starnes and Ethan Plaut are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.
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Michigan man sentenced to prison, ordered to pay $208,718 restitution in cryptocurrency scamRead the Press Release
MISSOULA—A Michigan man who admitted defrauding two Missoula persons in a cryptocurrency scam was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $208,718 restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
James Matthew Thomas, 35, of Midland, MI, pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud and money laundering.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that the evidence showed Thomas contacted Victim 1, who lives in Missoula, through LinkedIn in March 2018. The two had met several years earlier while working together on the east coast. Thomas asked Victim 1 if he wanted to invest in cryptocurrency for a few days with a rate of return of 30 to 40 percent. Thomas said he worked with CoinPoint, an internet advertising company that pushed people to participating company websites, and that CoinPoint was looking for investors.
Victim 1 sent Thomas $6,948 worth of virtual currency. A few days later, Thomas sent the victim $9,203 worth of virtual currency, which was about a 30 percent return on the victim’s investment. Based on the return, Victim 1 talked with a second victim and some of his friends and family members. The second victim invested $185,000 with Thomas and the friends and family members agreed to contribute another $500,000.
Much of the money taken in from Victim 1’s friends and family was never converted to virtual currency or forwarded to Thomas. When Victim 1 realized Thomas was scamming him, he was able to return most of that money.
As the scam progressed, Thomas told Victim 1 the investments were doing well and that he was getting rich. Victim 1 asked to be included on communications with CoinPoint and started receiving emails from various purported CoinPoint employees.
The FBI later determined the email addresses were fake and associated with another domain name – coinpointpartners.net – that was not associated with the real CoinPoint. Investigators also determined that Thomas had registered the fake domain name, coinpointpartners.net, the day after Victim 1 asked to be included in communications.
When Victim 1 tried to remove some money from the CoinPoint investment because it was doing so well, he encountered delays and various explanations. Victim 1 independently contacted CoinPoint and received information that led him to believe he had likely been scammed by Thomas.
The FBI interviewed CoinPoint’s owner, who said the company had never worked with Thomas or Victim 1.
As part of scam, Thomas used investment proceeds from the victims to buy a vehicle in New Jersey for $10,245.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Montana Broker Found Guilty in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal jury found a Montana man guilty yesterday for his role as a broker for a Swiss company involved in a multimillion-dollar international fraud scheme.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
Following a five-day trial, Sean Finn, 51, of Whitefish, Montana, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of securities fraud. He was acquitted of one count of wire fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 12, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson of the District of Nevada, who presided over the trial.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Finn conspired with others in the United States and Switzerland to promote investments and loan instruments that he knew to be fictitious. Finn and his co-conspirators told victims that, for an up-front payment ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, a Swiss company known as Malom Group AG (Malom), whose name stood for “Make A Lot Of Money,” would provide access to lucrative investment opportunities and substantial cash loans. The evidence showed that to effectuate this scheme, the defendant and his co-conspirators provided victims with fabricated bank documents purporting to show that Malom held hundreds of millions of dollars in overseas bank accounts, as well as documents falsely stating that Malom had previously closed similar deals. The evidence showed that when victims wired their money into an escrow account controlled by the co-conspirators, the money was released and disbursed to, among others, Finn for his own personal use. The evidence further showed that shortly before he was indicted in 2013, Finn fled to Canada, where he was arrested in 2014 and ultimately extradited back to the United States in 2018. According to the evidence presented at trial, losses to the victims from the scheme totaled approximately $4 million.
Finn was charged together with five other defendants. Two of these defendants, Anthony Brandel and James Warras, were found guilty of conspiracy and multiple counts of wire fraud and securities fraud following a jury trial in 2015. Brandel and Warras were each sentenced to 87 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on Aug. 3, 2016. A third defendant, Joseph Micelli, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud in 2015 and was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on Feb. 23, 2016. The other two defendants, Martin Schlaepfer and Hans-Jurg Lips, remain at large outside the United States. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant Deputy Chief Anna G. Kaminska and Trial Attorney Blake C. Goebel of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. Deputy Chief Brian Young of the Fraud Section previously handled the prosecution. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement Division, which conducted a parallel civil-enforcement investigation, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, also provided valuable assistance.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section plays a pivotal role in the Department of Justice’s fight against white-collar crime around the country.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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