District of Montana

GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman today admitted to sexually abusing a boy on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Brittany Lynn Gervais, 26, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. Gervais faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Oct. 4. Gervais was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of Aug. 4, 2021, a relative of the victim, identified as John Doe, was outside her residence visiting with a neighbor when she saw John Doe approach, with Gervais trailing. John Doe was 13 years old and has developmental delays. The relative saw blood on John Doe’s clothing and called an ambulance. The investigation determined that Gervais offered John Doe money to walk with her. At some point, Gervais sexually assaulted him.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah A. Paisley and Wendy A. Johnson are prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service conducted the investigation.

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BILLINGS  —  A felon who admitted to passing stolen checks at a bank and to illegally possessing a gun during a standoff with law enforcement before his arrest was sentenced today to eight years and five months in prison and to five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.  

Jesse Lee Hopkins, 38, a transient, pleaded guilty in February, to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and prohibited person in possession a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that Hopkins defrauded Stockman Bank by passing stolen and forged checks at branch offices to obtain money. Hopkins forged the signature of John Doe 1, a real person whom Hopkins knew was a real person. Hopkins cashed one of the stolen checks for $600 in March 2022. In August 2022, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, who had an arrest warrant for Hopkins, tracked him to a residence in Billings. Hopkins refused to come out and told officers he would shoot himself or force them to shoot him. After a while, Hopkins surrendered. Officers searched the residence and found a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a room where Hopkins was located during the standoff. Hopkins has multiple state and federal felony convictions, including armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and burglary, and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Billings Police Department investigated the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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MISSOULA  — A Great Falls man convicted of trafficking methamphetamine while on supervision for a federal felony conviction was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Rand Michael Emineth, 31, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in Missoula County in August 2021, law enforcement with the Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management conducted a traffic stop of Emineth’s vehicle for erratic driving. A parole-approved search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of meth, a scale, and drug paraphernalia. Emineth later admitted to recent drug use, and a search of his cell phone indicated he had been distributing meth. Emineth was trafficking meth while he was on supervised release for a federal conviction for possession of stolen explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and Montana Probation and Parole.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS  — The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day.

The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms.  One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission, a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives.  In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission.  Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings, which will continue through the summer.  Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary.  In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis.

“The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.  “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

“Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco.  “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons.  The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.”

 “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.”

“Today, we honor and remember American Indian and Alaska Native persons who have disappeared or have been murdered and know that their families and communities continue to suffer from the loss of loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana. “The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis affects women, men and children, and Montana has experienced tragic cases involving all three. We also recognize that indigenous women and children face disproportionally higher rates of violence and sexual abuse. We renew our unwavering commitment to do everything we can to find the missing and to hold killers accountable. Our office will continue to work with all of our federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners to search for those who have gone missing and to seek justice for the missing and murdered. We have made progress in Montana to address this crisis by working collaboratively with tribes to develop community response plans and participating on the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, but more work needs to be done.  We are determined to do that work as we also seek to reduce violence and improve public safety for all indigenous persons.”

Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases

In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing.  The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. 

Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance

In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance.  The revised guidelines, which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

National Native American Outreach Services Liaison

Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison.  Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response.

Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis

In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.”  The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here.

Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases

In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases. This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities.

Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library

On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library.  This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases.

Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program

The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases.

Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women

In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska.  OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General.  

National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico

Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward.

Additional Department of Justice Resources

For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.

Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. 

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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 May 5 was:

Brooke Nicole Larsen, 28, of Billings, 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, Larsen faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Larsen was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-54.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on May 1 was:

Cody Alan Harrington, 29, of Missoula, on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and sex trafficking of children. If convicted of the most serious crime, Harrington faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Harrington was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula Police Department, and FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-24.

Charles Lief Isaacson, 62, of Seely Lake, on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography and access with intent to view child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Isaacson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Isaacson was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-23.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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MISSOULA — A California man today admitted to receiving child pornography of a minor girl he befriended while living in Missoula, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Bobby Manuel Argo, 23, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. Argo faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Sept. 13 before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Argo was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that between 2021 and early 2022, Argo was living in Missoula and befriended Jane Doe 1, a girl who was under the age of 18. Jane Doe 1 confided in Argo that someone online was coercing her to send sexually explicit images of herself. Argo offered to help Jane Doe 1 and asked her to get him in touch with her extortioner. Instead of helping, Argo messaged the perpetrator separately and offered to assist him in further extorting Jane Doe 1 for explicit images of herself and others. In January 2022, law enforcement identified the perpetrator and, during a search of his social media account, learned he had been communicating with Argo about Jane Doe 1 and sharing explicit images of her with Argo. Law enforcement executed search warrants of Argo’s social media account, his residence in California and cell phone and found a video of Jane Doe 1 engaged in sexually explicit content that he had received through the internet while he was still in Missoula.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Missoula Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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BILLINGS  — A Billings man convicted in an undercover sting operation to identify and arrest persons who were attempting to have sex with children was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Thomas Clay Sebastian, 25, pleaded guilty in June 2022 to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in October 2021, law enforcement conducted an undercover sting operation in Billings to identify and arrest individuals who were attempting to have sex with children. Sebastian responded to an undercover post and began corresponding with a fictitious 13-year-old girl. Sebastian engaged in a sexual conversation with the undercover and asked whether the girl would engage in intercourse with him. The undercover agreed if Sebastian brought condoms and plans were made to meet in a park. Law enforcement arrested Sebastian when he arrived at the location. Sebastian later acknowledged that it was wrong to for him to chat with the undercover about sex and that he thought “maybe I’ll get away with it one time.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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MISSOULA —A Mexican citizen admitted today to allegations that he trafficked fentanyl in the Kalispell area after law enforcement seized 12,000 fentanyl pills, more than $72,000 in U.S. currency and a pistol from his vehicle, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Cuauhtemoc Cervantes Samaniego, 30, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Samaniego faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date was set for Sept. 21 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Samaniego was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Samaniego trafficked fentanyl in the Kalispell community from about May 2022 through Oct. 5, 2022. Investigators received information in October that Samaniego was in Kalispell with a large amount of fentanyl to distribute. At about 2:50 a.m. on Oct. 5, law enforcement officers located Samaniego at a gas station in Kalispell and searched his vehicle. Officers found 12,000 fentanyl pills, $72,687 in U.S. currency and a 9mm pistol. An individual later told an agent that Samaniego had met with a person prior to law enforcement stopping him and that Samaniego had provided the person fentanyl pills. The person gave Samaniego a firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark is prosecuting the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

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BILLINGS  — A California man who was convicted in a commercial sex investigation in which a woman brought a minor girl to Billings to engage in prostitution was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Cecil Jerome Hatchett, 32, of Carmichael, California, pleaded guilty in January to transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution.  

Co-defendant, Ashley Stella, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced previously to eight years in prison for transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that Hatchett arranged and aided the transportation of Stella and a minor girl, identified as Jane Doe, to travel to Montana and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex. In April 2021, law enforcement responded to a call by Quality Inn staff in Billings about possible commercial sex activity. Upon arrival, officers found  an individual emerging from the motel room while buttoning up his shirt and Stella and Jane Doe in the room. Law enforcement interviewed all three individuals and determined that the individual had responded to an ad in setting up the meeting and that Stella and the individual had corresponded about the potential sex encounter before he arrived in the room. Stella later admitted that when law enforcement arrived, she was in the midst of a commercial sex encounter.

The government further alleged that these events triggered a federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking.  Investigators found electronic messages between Hatchett and Stella discussing commercial sex appointments, including those that involved Jane Doe. Hatchett also had rented the car that Stella and Jane Doe used to travel to Montana.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake prosecuted the case. The FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Billings Police Department, Reno, Nevada., Police Department and IRS conducted the investigation.

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BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to sexually abusing a girl in Busby, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, between 2009 and 2010, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Travis Ridenour, aka Travis Lamere, 34, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. Ridenour faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 31. Ridenour was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Jane Doe 1 disclosed that when she approximately 13 years old, in 2009, she was sleeping in the same bed as another female. Ridenour also was in the bed. At some point, Jane Doe 1 woke up, and Ridenour’s hand was underneath her underwear on her vaginal area.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.

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BILLINGS  — A Sidney man who admitted to trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the community after law enforcement seized more than six pounds of the drug from his car was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Markel Dean Brown, 60, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in January 2022, law enforcement learned that Brown was distributing meth in Sidney and coordinated a controlled purchase of a half-pound of meth from Brown for $1,500. Investigators further learned that Brown would be traveling out of state to pick up a supply of meth and that Brown went to Texas. The Montana Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Brown’s vehicle when it returned to Montana and ultimately served a search warrant on the vehicle. Law enforcement seized three packages of 100 percent pure meth totaling 6.6 pounds. Agents also searched Brown’s cell phone and found messages that discussed the coordination of Brown picking up meth in Texas. The total amount of meth seized from Brown was 7.1 pounds, which is the equivalent of 25,730 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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MISSOULA  — A federal judge today convicted a Missoula man on multiple firearms crimes after presiding in a bench trial, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen found Michael Blake DeFrance, 29, guilty on all counts charged in a second superseding indictment, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm and three counts of false statement during a firearms transaction. The trial began on April 26 and concluded the next day.

DeFrance faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each count. Sentencing was set for Sept. 21.  DeFrance was released pending further proceedings.

“These verdicts are victories for Montana women, domestic partners, and families. The verdicts show that those like DeFrance who illegally possess firearms despite having been convicted of a domestic violence crime and make false statements on firearms forms so he could obtain guns at a pawn shop will be held accountable for their actions. I thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot, along with the FBI, for their extraordinarily hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on June 27, 2018, a Missoula Police Department detective located a Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver and a box of .357-caliber ammunition in the console of DeFrance’s truck. Two .22-caliber rifles were located under the back seat. On Oct. 2, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant on DeFrance’s residence and located a .357-caliber revolver on a desk by the front door. The detective recognized this gun as the revolver DeFrance had in his truck in June. DeFrance also had two rifles in his bedroom. When asked if he knew he was not supposed to have guns, DeFrance replied, “I was never clear on that.”

The government further alleged that in May 2013, DeFrance was sentenced for partner or family member assault on Jermain Charlo in Sanders County. A justice of the peace presided over DeFrance’s change of plea hearing and imposed sentence. DeFrance signed a waiver of rights form in which he acknowledged his rights, which included – on a list of possible consequences of pleading guilty – the loss of firearms rights. The same form contained space for DeFrance to explain the basis for his guilty plea, and his form stated, “On 4-14-2013, in Sanders County I caused bodily injury to my girlfriend.”

In addition, the government alleged that on three occasions in 2018, DeFrance completed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives forms at a Missoula pawn shop in which he represented that he had not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  Prior to and after the assault in 2013, Charlo stayed with DeFrance in a camper on property belonging to the DeFrance family. Charlo and DeFrance were in an intimate relationship.

The government alleged DeFrance was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and that he knowingly made false written statements on three occasions in 2018 at a Missoula pawn shop in connection with his acquisition and attempted acquisition of three firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS — Seven persons accused in a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy  on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations and in Yellowstone, Big Horn and Rosebud counties appeared for arraignment this week on various charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Six of the defendants face charges in a multi-count indictment alleging meth trafficking, firearms and money laundering crimes. A seventh defendant faces drug trafficking charges in a companion indictment.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings.

Agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI arrested the defendants, along with co-defendants, in a recent coordinated takedown involving multiple law enforcement officers at various locations on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations, and in Yellowstone, Big Horn and Rosebud counties.

A 13-count indictment alleges that multiple defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute meth from January 2022 through March 2023 in Billings, in Yellowstone County; Hardin, in Big Horn County; Crow Agency, Wyola and Lodge Grass, in Big Horn County and on the Crow Indian Reservation; and at Lame Deer, in Rosebud County and on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The indictment further alleges possession and distribution trafficking crimes, firearms crimes and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The meth conspiracy count carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Two of the defendants, Daniel Jiminez-Chavez, aka Raton, 40, of Lodge Grass, and Darlon Richard Lefthand, 37, of Hardin, pleaded not guilty on April 24 to various charges in the indictment, while Roderick Plentyhawk, 39, of Billings; Ranita Roselle Redfield, 47, of Lodge Grass; Carly Joy James, 42, of Billings; and Frederica Lefthand, 52, of Lodge Grass, pleaded not guilty on April 26 to various counts.  PACER case reference. 23-41.

Seven additional co-defendants named in the same indictment pleaded not guilty on April 21 to various counts. Those defendants include Wendell Lefthand, 54, of Lodge Grass; Melanie Rose Bloodman, 54, a transient; Jeffrey Prettypaint, 30, of Crow Agency; Keilee Shambrae Diaz, 35, of Crow Agency; Zachary Douglas Bacon, 35, of Garryowen; Morgan Luke Hugs, 34, of Lodge Grass; and Anthony Springfield, 23, of Hardin.

In a companion indictment, Adrienne Dawn LaForge, 35, of Lame Deer, pleaded not guilty on April 26 to three meth trafficking crimes. If convicted of the most serious crime, LaForge faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least 4 years of supervised release. Co-defendant Jacklyn Marcel Garcia-Littlebird, 58, of Lame Deer, pleaded not guilty on April 21 to the indictment. The indictment alleges that from January 2022 until October 2022, at Lame Deer, in Rosebud County; and at Crow Agency, in Big Horn County; LaForge and Garcia-Littlebird conspired with others to traffic meth. PACER case reference. 23-38.

The indictments are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI investigated the cases.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on April 28 was:

Brittany Nicole Lewis, 32, of Corvallis, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lewis faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug offense and a mandatory five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the firearms crime. Lewis was released pending further proceedings. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-20.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 25 was:

James Faddis Kennedy, 73, of Red Lodge, on charges of possession of unregistered firearm and illegal possession of a machine gun. If convicted of the most serious crime, Kennedy faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Kennedy was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-25.

Appearing on April 26 was:

Nathaniel James Jansen, 35, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jansen faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Jansen was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-47.

Elmer Brady, 67, a transient, on charges of bank robbery. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brady faces a maximum of 25 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Brady was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-42

Appearing on April 27 was:

Scott Francis Richardson, 44, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Richardson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Richardson was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-40.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 21 was:

Martaveon Makei Scott, aka Lo, 25, of Williston, North Dakota, 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, Scott faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Scott was detained pending further proceedings. The Havre Police Department and Tri-Agency Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-86.

Dustin Alan Robbins, 37, a transient, on charges of robbery, assault with intent to commit a felony and intimidation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Robbins faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Robbins was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement investigated the case.

PACER case reference. 23-25.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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BILLINGS—Ten persons arrested on allegations of trafficking methamphetamine on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations and in Yellowstone, Big Horn and Rosebud counties appeared for arraignment today on indictments alleging multiple crimes, while another individual was arraigned on April 20 on a related case, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Seven of the defendants face charges in a multi-count indictment alleging meth trafficking, firearms and money laundering crimes. Four additional defendants, including one who previously was in custody, face meth trafficking charges in three companion indictments.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings.

 Agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI arrested 10 of defendants on April 19 in a coordinated takedown involving multiple law enforcement officers at various locations on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations and in Yellowstone, Big Horn and Rosebud counties.

 A 13-count indictment alleges that multiple defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute meth from January 2022 through March 2023 in Billings, in Yellowstone County; Hardin, in Big Horn County; Crow Agency, Wyola and Lodge Grass, in Big Horn County and on the Crow Indian Reservation; and at Lame Deer, in Rosebud County and on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The indictment further alleges possession and distribution trafficking crimes, firearms crimes and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The meth conspiracy count carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Seven of the defendants named in the indictment pleaded not guilty today to various counts. The defendants include Wendell Lefthand, 54, of Lodge Grass; Melanie Rose Bloodman, 54, a transient; Jeffrey Prettypaint, 30, of Crow Agency; Keilee Shambrae Diaz, 35, of Crow Agency; Zachary Douglas Bacon, 35, of Garryowen; Morgan Luke Hugs, 34, of Lodge Grass; and Anthony Springfield, 23, of Hardin. PACER case reference. 23-41.

In a companion indictment, defendants Hailey James, 43, of Lame Deer, and John Littlehead, 37, of Laurel, pleaded not guilty to three meth trafficking crimes. The indictment alleges that from about January 2022 until March 2023, James and Littlehead conspired to possess and distribute meth at Billings, in Yellowstone County; at Hardin, Crow Agency, Wyola and Lodge Grass, in Big Horn County and on the Crow Indian Reservation; and at Lame Deer in Rosebud County, and on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The conspiracy count carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. PACER case reference. 23-37.

In a second companion indictment, Jacklyn Marcel Garcia-Littlebird, 58, of Lame Deer, pleaded not guilty to three meth trafficking crimes. The indictment alleges that from January 2022 until October 2022, at Lame Deer, in Rosebud County; and at Crow Agency, in Big Horn County; Garcia-Littlebird conspired with others to traffic meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garcia-Littlebird faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at last 4 years of supervised release. PACER case reference. 23-38.

In a third companion case, Geofredo James Littlebird, Jr., 39, of Lame Deer, who was previously in custody, pleaded not guilty on April 20 to meth trafficking and firearms offenses charged in a superseding indictment. Pacer case reference 22-149

The indictments are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI investigated the cases.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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BILLINGS  — The U.S. Attorney’s Office held its first United Against Hate event on April 19 in Billings with a meeting of federal and local law enforcement representatives and local religious and faith leaders, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Through this initiative, the Justice Department seeks to create and strengthen partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders and residents.

“I am pleased to kick off this initiative in Billings, which has experienced some troubling incidents against houses of worship and faith groups in recent months. Billings also has a history of standing up to hate, and I look forward to hearing different perspectives on ways we can all work together to fight hate crimes and prevent hate incidents from occurring,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

The meeting, held at the Yellowstone County Commission’s Board Room, provided an opportunity for members and leaders in the faith community to have a better understanding of hate crimes and hate incidents, how to report them to law enforcement and to learn about available resources.

Speakers at the Billings meeting included U.S. Attorney Laslovich and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Vestal, civil rights coordinator for the office. In addition, the event featured a panel discussion and question and comment session that included U.S. Attorney Laslovich, FBI Supervisory Resident Agent Nadine Brown, Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Protective Security Advisor Albert Mendoza, Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder and Billings Police Department Chief Rich St. John.

The District of Montana will be holding additional United Against Hate events in the coming months in communities across the state.

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MISSOULA  — Two Butte men convicted in a large armed drug trafficking operation that brought pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs to the Butte community and laundered proceeds were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Mark Ernest Spani, 65, was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, while co-defendant Stanley Roy Vires, 68, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Both defendants pleaded guilty in 2022 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that law enforcement learned in July 2021 that Spani and Vires were dealing drugs together and purchased meth from Vires through a confidential informant. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Vires’ residence and recovered approximately five pounds of meth, a little more than one pound of heroin, 26 firearms and cash. In June 2022, law enforcement searched properties owned by Spani and found one pound of meth, cash and numerous firearms.

The government further alleged that Spani was involved in dealing meth, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, traveled out of state to obtain and bring drugs back to Montana and carried guns while trafficking. When arrested, Spani appeared “to be reaching toward his right-hand side waist area,” which is where a gun was located. Spani had a previous federal felony drug conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

In addition, the government alleged Vires was involved in dealing meth and heroin and that Vires admitted he received a total of about 15 pounds of meth in 2020 and 2021. Fifteen pounds of meth is the equivalent of 54,360 doses. When searching Vires’ vehicle, law enforcement found two loaded firearms. Vires was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had a prior federal conviction for drug trafficking.

The government also alleged Vires and Spani and others conspired to conceal money and used cash proceeds to buy additional drugs, including in Arizona. Vires and others also bought additional assets using drug trafficking proceeds.

Under a forfeiture count, Vires and Spani agreed to forfeit a residence in Butte, approximately 10 acres known as Fleecer View Estates, a 1955 Chevrolet 210 vehicle, a 2013 Harley Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic motorcycle, a 2019 Harley Davidson Tri Glide Ultra Classic, a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 pickup, a 2022 Dodge Ram 3500 Big Horn, a 2011 Montana 5th Wheel and $33,346 in U.S. Currency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Butte Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS  — A Lame Deer man convicted of sexually abusing a woman on the Northern  Cheyenne Indian Reservation in 2022 was sentenced today to 11 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

James Cale Allen, 29, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to aggravated sexual abuse.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2022, Allen was drinking alcohol in a Lame Deer residence and became angry with the victim, a woman. Allen first slapped and punched the victim and then sexually assaulted her while she was telling him no.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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MISSOULA — A Kalispell man accused of threatening to kill Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester in calls to his office admitted to a threats charge today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Kevin Patrick Smith, 46, pleaded guilty to threats to murder a United States Senator. Smith faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date was set for Aug. 24 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Smith was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on Jan. 30, Smith made numerous threatening phone calls to Sen. Tester, a member of Congress, by leaving voicemails at Sen. Tester’s Kalispell office.

In one message, Smith said:

 “There is nothing I want more than to have you stand toe to toe with me. You stand toe to toe with me. I rip your head off. You die. You stand in a situation where it is physical between you and me. You die.”

And:

“I will never stop … And I would love to destroy you and rip your (obscenity) head from your shoulders. That is no problem. Call that a threat. Send the FBI.”

Smith also left a message for Sen. Tester that said:

“I would love to (obscenity) kill you. I would love to see your FBI at my door. I would love to see something in the news.”

Smith acknowledged in the recordings that he threatened Sen. Tester and such threats were “on purpose.” Smith made the threats because he was upset with Sen. Tester’s political decisions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police.

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BILLINGS — A Billings man who was on state supervision for felony convictions admitted today to firearms crimes after law enforcement found him in possession of a stolen gun, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Joseph Lee Doney, 41, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a stolen firearm. Doney faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Doney was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 13, 2022, Billings Police Department officers arrested Doney on a probation violation warrant after he was spotted in a stolen truck the previous night. Doney had absconded from state supervision in January 2022. In a search of a trailer where Doney had been living, officers seized a stolen Ruger .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Doney admitted to an officer that there was ammunition in his trailer and that he was in the stolen truck the night before. In a recorded jail call after his arrest, Doney admitted he knew the gun was stolen. The owner of the stolen truck and pistol confirmed that the gun was in his truck, which was parked outside of his home, when both were stolen.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man with a felony conviction for murder admitted today to illegally possessing ammunition after a shootout on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Buddy Gene Walking Eagle, 38, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Walking Eagle faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Sept. 13. Walking Eagle was released pending further proceedings.

In court documents filed by the government, on March 16, 2020, Walking Eagle was on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation when a shootout occurred. Law enforcement recovered .40-caliber shells that belonged to Walking Eagle. Walking Eagle was prohibited from possessing the ammunition because he was previously convicted of murder in 2004 in Colorado.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy A. Johnson and Ryan G. Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana, including a DEA site in Billings. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs.

“We can all do something to help stop the epidemic of overdose deaths and addictions plaguing Montana by getting rid of expired or unused prescription drugs in our homes. Dropping off these drugs at DEA Take Back Day collection sites across the state is a convenient way to keep loved ones, friends, and our communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

“Opiate overdoses are occurring throughout the United States, and Montana is no different. But we can all pitch in to help stop this epidemic,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Stacy Zinn-Brittain. “I encourage everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and nightstands of expired or unneeded prescription medicine, especially opioids, and to bring them to DEA’s designated Take Back locations. Together, we can make a difference.”

The DEA will have a drop off location in Billings at the Billings Fire Station #5, 605 S. 24th Street W.

More than 28 sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/

During the last Take Back Day held on Oct. 29, 2022, 4,340 law enforcement participants at 4,902 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 647,163 pounds, or 324 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 16.6 million pounds, or more than 8,318 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs.

During the October 2022 event, Montanans turned in 1,450 pounds of prescription drugs at 27 collection sites. Thirty law enforcement agencies participated.

In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on April 22, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 22 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

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MISSOULA — A Washington man who was accused of traveling to Missoula expecting to meet a child for sex and was arrested in an undercover investigation admitted to a coercion crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Kenton Alan Shaull, 59, pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Shaull faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 26. Shaull was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents and in statements in court that from January to May 2022, Shaull used his cellular phone to communicate on an internet-based social media service with a profile he believed belonged to a child, identified as “E,” who was under the age of 14. Shaull reaffirmed multiple times his belief that “E” was a child under the age of 14. Shaull also expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with “E” and sent several sexually explicit videos of himself. Shaull further expressed his desire to meet “E” in person for sexual activity and traveled to Missoula on May 14, 2022 to meet with “E” at a pre-determined location, where law enforcement officers arrested him.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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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 April 13 was:

Jesse Ray Blackman, 40, of Billings, on charges of interstate threats and cyberstalking. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blackman faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Blackman was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, with assistance from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-123.

Appearing on April 11 was:

Camille Ann Rounds, 45, Deborah Lynn Renenger, 32, and Keegan Tait Roll, 28, all transients, on fentanyl trafficking charges. Rounds and Renenger are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Roll is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rounds and Renenger face a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the meth trafficking crime, and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release, on the firearm crime. Roll faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-40.

Cynthia Rae Pruett, 51, of Acton, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Pruett faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Pruett was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Billings Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Laurel Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-39.

Appearing on April 10 was:

Paul Nomee III, 60, of Lodge Grass, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nomee faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Nomee was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-29.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 11 was:

Nikki Marie Snell, 38, of Wolf Point, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Snell faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the crime of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other crime, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the crime of possessing a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Snell was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-31.

Shacotta Keenan St. Onge, aka Shaq, 30, of Great Falls, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, St. Onge faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. St. Onge was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Great Falls Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-33.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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MISSOULA — A Clinton roofing company owner today admitted to allegations that he used a federal business loan of more than $400,000 intended for economic relief caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to instead buy personal items, including an ATV, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a camper, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Damon Alexander Wahl, 46, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to money laundering. Wahl faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Wahl also admitted to a forfeiture count and agreed to forfeit a 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a 2018 Hideout camper trailer and a 2013 Polaris RZR all-terrain vehicle.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for July 26. Wahl was released pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in July 2021, Wahl, who operates Wahls Roofing LLC in Clinton, received a $405,400 loan from the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. EIDL loans were intended to provide economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that experienced a temporary loss of revenue during the pandemic. Business owners seeking EIDL loans were required to certify under penalty of perjury that they would use the money solely for business operating expenses, such as payroll, rent and mortgage payments, utilities and business debt.

The government further alleged that in his loan application, Wahl wrote that he intended to use the money to finish his shop, buy equipment for the roofing business and pay a second crew. Instead, Wahl used at least $160,000 for personal expenses, including $13,900 for an ATV, more than $21,000 for a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle and $14,700 for a camper. When interviewed about the loan, Wahl said he knew he needed to spend the loan on his business and admitted he did not.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS.

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BILLINGS  — A Wyoming man who admitted to possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun after an attempted traffic stop and chase on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to two and one-half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Tyler Dale Medicine Horse, 38, of Gillette, Wyoming, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in November 2021, Bureau of Indian Affairs officers attempted a traffic stop of a van driven by Medicine Horse because of reports  that the van was speeding toward Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. A BIA officer attempted to stop the van, which was speeding and swerving, but Medicine Horse fled. After a brief chase, Medicine Horse crashed. A blood draw determined that Medicine Horse had alcohol and methamphetamine in his blood. During a search of the van, officers recovered a sawed-off shotgun, with a  barrel length of 6.5 inches and an overall length of 18 inches. Medicine Horse also was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a previous federal felony conviction for sexual abuse of a minor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and BIA.

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MISSOULA — A Bozeman man suspected of traveling to other state to have sex with a juvenile admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Zachary Vernon Stephens, 34, pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Stephens faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Aug. 24 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Stephens was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in September 2021, while investigating Stephens on allegations of stalking a person in the Bozeman area, law enforcement learned that Stephens had been communicating with another individual, a 12-year-old girl, who was in Utah. Electronic communications between Stephens and the girl, identified as Jane Doe, were sexually explicit and discussed a previously planned trip of Stephens to Utah in July 2021 to engage in sex acts with Jane Doe. The messages also indicated that Stephens had met Jane Doe for sex acts prior to July 2021, including a trip to Nevada in June 2021.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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MISSOULA  — A federal jury on Tuesday convicted a Washington man of trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine in Lake County last year, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

After a two-day trial that began on April 10, the jury found David Loren Waldeck, 57, of Port Orchard, Washington, guilty of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as charged in an indictment. Waldeck faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Sept.13. Waldeck was detained pending further proceedings.

“Holding drug traffickers, like Waldeck, accountable for bringing significant amounts of meth, fentanyl pills and cocaine to the Flathead Valley continues to be a top priority for our office. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Amanda L. Myers, along with Homeland Security Investigations and the Flathead Tribal Police Department for their hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on Oct. 24, 2022, Flathead Tribal police officers stopped and arrested an individual on outstanding warrants and learned that a person, named “David,” was in Kalispell and coming back to Polson that day with meth and fentanyl to distribute. The police officers then stopped Waldeck later that day and located 4,212 fentanyl pills, approximately 837 grams, or 1.8 pounds of meth, and approximately 489 grams, or a little more than one pound, of cocaine in his vehicle.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Amanda L. Myers are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Flathead Tribal Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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MISSOULA  — A Hamilton man who admitted to illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, including a “ghost gun,” after having been convicted of felonies, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Kevin Michael Jakub, 38, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in January 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a storage unit of Jakub’s and recovered two semi-automatic rifles with large capacity magazines, one pistol, three suppressors, various firearm parts and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In July 2022, law enforcement contacted Jakub after receiving a report of him possibly discharging a firearm. Jakub admitted to firing his pistol, and agents recovered a pistol described as a “ghost gun,” which means it had no identifiable markings. Jakub, who had three previous felony convictions in Colorado and Montana for drug offenses, was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol and Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS  — A Great Falls man who admitted to illegally possessing firearms while on supervision for prior felony convictions was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Zachary Paul Potts, 26, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in the fall of 2021, Potts was on state supervision for multiple felony convictions when he was stopped while driving a vehicle in Great Falls with a suspended license. During a probation search of the vehicle, law enforcement found a .357-caliber revolver in a backpack and a 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat. Potts told the officer he knew about the pistol and that he had used it in the past. The government further alleged that the backpack also contained a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, more than four grams of fentanyl powder, a scale and empty plastic baggies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Great Falls Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of stabbing another man at a party in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, admitted to assault charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Frank David Francis Boy, 24, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Boy faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Sept. 7. Boy was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 18, 2022, Boy was drinking alcohol with friends in East Glacier. The group decided to go for a drive and ended up at a house party in Browning. The victim, identified as John Doe, who lived at the residence at the time, and Boy arm-wrestled and then got into a wrestling match, which led to a disagreement. Boy and his companions were told to leave, but Boy refused. Boy’s companions pulled Boy from the residence and as they were walking away, Boy turned around and began to engage John Doe. Boy walked toward John Doe, who was backing up, and then stabbed John Doe four or five times in the left shoulder and back area. Another individual captured the assault on video. John Doe was treated for injuries at a hospital in Great Falls.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.

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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. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 4 was:

Jicarilla Juan Tiznado, 23, of Farmington, New Mexico, on charges of cyberstalking. If convicted of the most serious crime, Tiznado faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Tiznado was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-81.

Brittany Alice Bradley, 25, of Harlem, and Daniel Francis First Raised, 32, of Harlem, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of controlled substances and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bradley and First Raised face a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Bradley was released pending further proceedings, while First Raised was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Tri Agency Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-18.

Wilbur Joseph Nagel, 52, of Box Elder, on charges of distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nagel faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Nagel was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-21.

Jesse Nunez-Ibarra, 22, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of meth and distribution of heroin. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nunez-Ibarra faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Nunez-Ibarra was released pending further proceedings. The Great Falls Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-102.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 5 was:

Anthony Holcomb, 29, April Jean Timberman, 41, and Bonita Hammons, 33, all of Miles City, 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, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Service and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-32.

Appearing on April 3 was:

Jamie Nicole Selage, 26, of Crow Agency, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Selage faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Selage was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-137.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on April 6 was:

Shanetwann Clayton Waldon, 45, of Fort Worth, Texas, on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Waldon faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Waldon was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Missoula Police Department, Chubbock, Idaho, Police Department, Pocatello, Idaho, Police Department and Bannock County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office,  investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-13.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point woman today admitted to allegations that she trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jordan Paige Day, 24, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Day faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Aug. 30. Day was released pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in January 2022, the Idaho State Police stopped a vehicle Day was driving toward Montana. During a search of the vehicle, officers located methamphetamine and fentanyl pills. In April 2022, Fort Peck officers searched a residence based on information that Day was at the house and was selling drugs. Officers seized a large bag of meth from the couch and approximately 140 fentanyl pills from under a couch cushion. Day later admitted to selling meth. Regarding the April incident, Day said that she and another person had picked up multiple pounds of meth and several hundred fentanyl pills and that the meth seized was a portion of those drugs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Idaho State Police, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Peck Department of Law and Justice.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS  — A Browning man who worked at the Museum of the Plains Indian on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today for stealing culturally significant artifacts, including a grizzly bear claw necklace, beaded moccasins and golden eagle feathers from a war bonnet, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris sentenced Preston Jay Spotted Eagle, 32, to five years of probation, as recommended by both parties in a plea agreement, 250 hours of  community service and ordered him to pay $16,860 restitution.

Spotted Eagle pleaded guilty in October 2022 to theft of government property.

“As an aide employed by the Museum of the Plains Indian, Spotted Eagle was entrusted with caring for culturally significant, sacred and priceless artifacts of the Blackfeet Nation, Crow, Lakota, and other Northern Plains tribes,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “Instead, Spotted Eagle plundered the museum’s collection for his own benefit—damaging, as well as stealing, claws from a grizzly bear claw necklace, taking a pair of beaded moccasins, and removing golden eagle tail feathers from a rare full-length eagle headdress. Perhaps Spotted Eagle’s most egregious conduct was to rifle through sacred medicine bundles, not only causing physical damage, but also desecrating them. These irreplaceable cultural items represent the brave and valued history of our Native American brothers and sisters, which is why we will hold accountable anyone who seeks to engage in similar criminal conduct.”

“Protecting and preserving Indian art, culture, and heritage is of the utmost importance to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB), including through its Museum of the Plains Indian operations and programs,” stated IACB Director Meridith Stanton. “The IACB shares the outrage expressed by Blackfeet community members regarding the mishandling, destruction, and theft from the Museum of the Plains Indian of culturally significant and sacred Blackfeet collections by Mr. Spotted Eagle -- someone entrusted with their care and protection as a then Museum employee.  The IACB is grateful for the outstanding work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Office of the U.S. Attorney – District of Montana in bringing Mr. Spotted Eagle to justice for his destructive and reckless actions.”         

“Mr. Spotted Eagle not only stole from the museum, but also from the people of the Northern Plains Tribes,” said Edward J. Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “He also wore and damaged culturally significant items that are irreplaceable in spirit and value and his actions have robbed current and future generations of seeing these items intact and enjoying their significance. Today’s sentence was the result of the strong collaboration between our special agents, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

The government alleged in court documents that the thefts occurred between May and August 2021 from the Museum of the Plains Indian, in Browning, where Spotted Eagle was employed as an aide. None of the stolen items has been recovered. The Museum of the Plains Indian displays the arts of various Northern Plains Tribes and is managed by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board. All art held by the museum is property of the federal government. In August 2021, museum staff noticed that a bear claw necklace was missing from a display. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated and identified Spotted Eagle as the thief.

The government alleged that the first item found to be missing was a grizzly bear necklace that contained 11 large claws. An employee assumed Spotted Eagle had removed it because she had given him an inventory assignment. When asked about the necklace, Spotted Eagle reported not knowing what happened to it. A review of security system video led to Spotted Eagle. When confronted again, Spotted Eagle said he believed he removed the necklace after seeing that it had fallen off its hanger. Spotted Eagle told the employee that nobody else needed to review the video and that he could guarantee the necklace was still in the museum. That afternoon, Spotted Eagle said he found the necklace under some papers in a collection room. The necklace was heavily damaged and appeared to have had four of the 11 claws removed and replaced with smaller claws.

Court documents further alleged that museum staff conducted an inventory to determine if there were other items missing and learned that an additional four loose grizzly bear claws, a pair of beaded moccasins and 26 golden eagle feathers from a war bonnet were gone. A review of surveillance footage showed that Spotted Eagle removed the pair of stolen moccasins, but first he held several different pairs of moccasins up to the bottom of his shoe for a size comparison. He later took the pair of moccasins and rearranged the other moccasins they were stored with so the missing pair would not be easy to detect. Video further showed Spotted Eagle handling a war bonnet that was later found with 26 missing golden eagle feathers. Investigators identified additional video of Spotted Eagle removing artifacts and photographing them with his cell phone. He was observed trying on historic clothing, including a ceremonial Crazy Dog Society shirt that was too small for him but did not rip during the struggle. And he was observed rummaging through many sacred bundles, even breaking a strap on the parfleche tube case of one of the bundles. In addition to physically damaging the bundles, Spotted Eagle caused spiritual harm to them and to the community by violating cultural protocols associated with the care and handling of sacred medicine bundles.

When interviewed by agents, the government alleged, Spotted Eagle claimed that he found the bear claw necklace damaged, removed it and attempted to repair it, but that he was unable to notify other employees because they were absent. Agents confirmed the employees were present on the date Spotted Eagle removed the necklace. Agents confronted Spotted Eagle about removing four claws from the necklace and replacing them, which he denied. Spotted Eagle abruptly ended the interview, swore at the agent and left after making an obscene gesture.

Investigators later confirmed that Spotted Eagle posted on social media a photo of 33 immature golden eagle feathers that are similar to the 26 feathers stolen from the museum headdress. Spotted Eagle has never applied for or received golden eagle parts from the National Eagle Repository.

    An appraisal of the missing and damaged items determined the following values:

• Grizzly bear claw necklace, $3,200 fair market value before being damaged.
• Beaded moccasins, $350 fair market value and $425 replacement cost.
• Four grizzly bear claws, $800 market value and $1,700 replacement cost.
• 26 golden eagle feathers, no fair market value because the trade is illegal. The valuation of a feather under the uniform collateral forfeiture is $300 each, for a total of $7,800.
• The smaller bear claws found on the damaged necklace were determined to be one black bear claw and three grizzly bear claws, which were significantly newer than the other seven original claws.
• The damage to the war bonnet was not calculated because no legal market exists. A war bonnet similar to the one damaged was sold overseas for $18,172 in 2012.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.

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BILLNGS  — A Billings man who admitted having sexual conversations through social media with an undercover agent posing as a minor girl and was arrested when he showed up to meet the girl, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Kyle Jason Swindler, 42, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court also ordered $2,000 restitution.

The government alleged in court documents that in October 2021, law enforcement conducted an undercover operation in Billings to identify and arrest individuals who were attempting to have sex with children. Swindler responded to a social media post by an undercover agent who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. When the undercover agent identified herself as 13 years old, Swindler responded, “Ouch you’re a young one.” The conversation became sexual in nature. Swindler and the undercover agent arranged to meet in a public park for a sexual encounter. Swindler drove to the park, where he was arrested. Law enforcement searched Swindler’s vehicle and found sex-related items. Officers also searched Swindler’s cell phone and recovered the original social media conversation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office.

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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GREAT FALLS  — A Browning man who admitted beating a man in the head with a claw hammer was sentenced today to 20 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Calvin Lame Bull Juneau, 37, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on Nov. 19, 2021, Juneau and co-defendant, Dale Ray Racine, entered a residence in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and assaulted the victim, identified as John Doe, who was sleeping in a bedroom. Doe awoke and saw Juneau and Racine rushing toward him. Juneau had a claw hammer in his hands. The victim received multiple strikes in the head, one to his hand and one to his leg. The victim was treated for head injuries at the Indian Health Service in Browning. Racine was sentenced previously to two years in prison for his conviction in the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.

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BILLINGS  — A Great Falls man with a felony conviction was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Raymond Lee Toulouse, 37, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that in May 2022, Billings police officers checked on a suspicious vehicle and found Toulouse under the influence of some kind of substance and in possession of a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic pistol that had been stolen in Butte. At the time, Toulouse had absconded from federal supervision in Great Falls and was prohibited from possessing firearms after having been convicted of a methamphetamine trafficking crime in U.S. District Court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS  — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking fentanyl in the community after law enforcement found 9,500 fentanyl pills and a firearm in his vehicle was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Kyngsten Bargar, 30, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in July 2021, law enforcement learned that Bargar was distributing fentanyl pills in the Billings area. The investigation determined that Bargar traveled to Washington to buy fentanyl, and in February 2022, the Montana Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop east of Reed Point of a vehicle driven by Bargar. During a search of the vehicle, officers found two firearms in a backpack and a safe that contained nine small bags of blue pills. An analysis determined the pills contained fentanyl. Agents estimated there were approximately 9,500 pills. The safe also contained a large amount of U.S. currency that had been bundled separately with rubber bands. One of the bundles contained a paper copy of Bargar’s Montana driver’s license. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Billings Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man accused of trafficking drugs on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation after law enforcement found a pound of methamphetamine and eight firearms in his truck admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Thomas Knife, aka “Smurf,” 41, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Knife faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Aug. 24. Knife was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in December 2022, law enforcement made a traffic stop on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation of an individual who was suspected of bringing large quantities of controlled substances to Montana. During the stop, Knife arrived driving a truck. Knife told officers that the vehicle involved in the traffic stop belonged to him. Officers ultimately arrested Knife on a warrant. As they took Knife into custody, officers saw a short-barreled shotgun inside the truck he had been driving. During a search of the truck, officers found more than $500, approximately one pound of meth and eight firearms, including a .22-caliber rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun that appeared to have modified barrels. There also were hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Knife was on felony state probation at the time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS — A Billings man admitted to robbery and firearms crimes today after he was accused of stealing a car at gunpoint in Billings and leading law enforcement on a chase into Big Horn County, where he was arrested, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Joseph Wayne Cantrell, 29, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with Hobbs Act Robbery and with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Cantrell faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release on the robbery charge and a mandatory minimum seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 2. Cantrell was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on Jan. 8, 2022, the victim was sitting in his 2017 Subaru Outback in a parking lot in Billings when Cantrell approached his driver’s side door. The victim told Cantrell to go away. Cantrell then pulled out a black handgun, and the victim immediately surrendered his car to Cantrell, who drove off in it. Less than an hour later, law enforcement found Cantrell with the car. Cantrell fled and led law enforcement on a chase from Yellowstone County into Big Horn County. Law enforcement deployed spike strips to stop Cantrell and could hear gunshots coming from the car. The car wrecked a short time later and Cantrell fled with the firearm into a nearby field. The car’s passenger side window had been shot out. After a standoff lasting several hours, Cantrell threw the firearm away and was arrested. The firearm was a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas K. Godfrey and Lori Harper Suek are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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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 for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint on March 31 was:

Kellen Kantrell Norman, 19, of Polson, on charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and manufacture of a controlled substance. If convicted of the most serious crime, Norman faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release on the drug charges and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. Norman was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-33.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 30 was:

Nathan Allen Sayler, 46, of Billings, on charges of distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and destruction and removal of property to prevent seizure. If convicted of the most serious crime, Sayler faces a minimum mandatory 15 years to 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. Sayler was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-31.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 28 was:

Emil Saunders Day Chief, 41, of Great Falls, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of the most serious crime, Day Chief faces a maximum of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Day Chief was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Montana Highway Patrol and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-10.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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MISSOULA  — A Missoula man who admitted to a drug trafficking crime after law enforcement found a backpack containing methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and a pipe bomb in his vehicle was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Matthew Lucas Jones, 43, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that on June 1, 2021, law enforcement stopped Jones, while he was absconding from state probation, for a traffic violation after he drove into oncoming traffic. Officers searched a backpack in Jones’ vehicle and found heroin containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, dozens of distribution baggies and a pipe bomb. An explosives expert determined the pipe bomb was functional. Jones denied knowing about the pipe bomb or backpack and said that they must have belonged to the vehicle’s previous owner. However, surveillance video showed Jones carrying the backpack when he checked into a hotel the previous evening. Jones also possessed two cell phones, one of which contained multiple text messages indicating he was selling drugs, $1,060 cash, a silver coin and pre-paid cards.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missoula Police Department, Montana Probation and Parole, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS  — The former president of a paving and asphalt contractor based in Billings was sentenced today to three years of probation, with six months of home detention, and fined $27,000 after he admitted to attempting to monopolize the market for highway crack-sealing services in Montana and Wyoming, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. 

Nathan Nephi Zito, 44, of Billings, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to an information charging him with one felony count of attempted monopolization in violation of the Sherman Act.

The government alleged in court documents that Zito attempted to cheat the competitive bidding process by monopolizing the markets for highway crack-sealing services in Montana and Wyoming by proposing that his company and its competitor allocate regional markets. As early as January 2020, Zito approached a competitor about a “strategic partnership” and proposed that the competitor stop competing with Zito’s company for highway crack-sealing projects administered by Montana and Wyoming. In return, Zito’s company would stop competing with the competitor for projects administered by South Dakota and Nebraska. Zito offered to pay his competitor $100,000 as additional compensation for lost business in Montana and Wyoming. Zito further proposed that he and his competitor enter into a sham transaction to disguise their collusion.

“If Zito had succeeded in his efforts to game the competitive bidding process, there  would have been a dangerous probability he would have eliminated competition and been free to raise prices or limit production, which would have negatively impacted the American taxpayer.  I am grateful to Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Dake and our valued partners at both the Antitrust Division within the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General for their creative and hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

“Defendant Zito’s sentence should serve as a deterrent for contractors tempted by greed when bidding on contracts funded with federal dollars,” said Cissy Tubbs, Special Agent-In-Charge, Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Western Region. “We rely on DOT operating agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration to sound the alarm when circumstances in these complex bidding processes seem amiss, as occurred here. Consequently, OIG is committed to pursuing these multifaceted cases with our partners including the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force, the Antitrust Division, and the Montana United States Attorney’s Office.”

The case is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General as part of the Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF). In November 2019, the Department of Justice created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to defense-related spending, go to https://www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force.

Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit http://www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.

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GREAT FALLS  — An East Helena woman who admitted to her role in a mail theft scheme to defraud others by using unauthorized financial information was sentenced on March 23 to three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Jessica Rose Menth, 33, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to access device fraud.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that between December 2020 and January 2021, Menth became involved in a scheme to steal mail to obtain documents, checks, ATM and credit cards, prepaid debit cards with COVID relief funds and other items of value, and then pass the checks and access the money from the various stolen cards. In a search of Menth’s hotel room in January 2021, law enforcement discovered a stack of stolen mail, several documents and more than 30 debit cards, most of which still had activation stickers on them. There was no evidence that Menth had the chance to use or attempt to use any of the devices to make unauthorized purchases. Officers also searched Menth’s car and found several small baggies and a small amount of methamphetamine.   

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service and Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

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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 24 was:

Kyle D. Evenson, 35, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Evenson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Evenson was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-24.

Appearing on March 23 was:

Brandon Daniel Fernandes, 31, of Billings, on charges of possession of unregistered silencer and possession of firearm with an obliterated serial number. If convicted of the most serious crime, Fernandes faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Fernandes was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-28.

Appearing on March 21 was:

Elias Miguel Nava, 19, and Lawrence Alexander Foster-Nava IV, 19, both of Billings, on charges of possession of an unregistered silencer and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Elias Miguel Nava also is charged with prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Elias Miguel Nava faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lawrence Alexander Foster-Nava IV faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-28.

Le Erland Fannin, 41, of Livingston, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Fannin faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Fannin was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Park County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-17.

Kenneth Crazymule, Jr., 58, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to dating or intimate partner and assault with a dangerous weapon. If convicted of the most serious crime, Crazymule faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Crazymule was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-16.

Vincent Charles McCall, 21, of Fort Worth, Texas, on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. If convicted of the most crime, McCall faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release on bank fraud and a mandatory minimum two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on aggravated identity theft. McCall was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Secret Service, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-27.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man on March 23 admitted to an assault charge for strangling a woman on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Alex George Deserly, 43, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner. Deserly faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date was set for Aug. 17. Deserly was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on June 25, 2022, medical personnel and law enforcement responded to the victim’s home for a report of a domestic assault. Deserly had left the home prior to the police arriving. The victim told law enforcement that she had confronted Deserly over messages she had seen and asked him how long he had been using methamphetamine. Deserly grabbed the victim, shoved her into a wall and strangled her. The victim tried to escape, but Deserly continued to assault and strangle her until he eventually stopped. The victim was treated for injuries.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Kalah A. Paisley are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department.

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BILLINGS  — A Washington man who admitted to a drug trafficking crime after law enforcement found fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and a loaded 9mm handgun in a search of his Billings hotel room and truck was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Joel David Lund, 40, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that in September 2022, an investigation into an individual caught with a significant amount of fentanyl led to Lund as the person who sold the drug from his Billings hotel room. Agents served a search warrant on Lund’s hotel room, his truck and bags and seized approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills, meth, cocaine, heroin and a loaded 9mm handgun.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and Billings Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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BILLINGS — A Pryor man accused of beating a woman on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to a domestic assault crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Christian Aaron Monroy, 25, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with domestic assault by a habitual offender. Monroy faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Monroy was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2021, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, was driving a car with Monroy as a passenger. Monroy began to tease and tickle Jane Doe, who accidently hit Monroy in the face with her elbow. Later, with Monroy now driving, Jane Doe threw a bottle of Monroy’s alcohol out of the window. Monroy stopped the car near Chief Plenty Coups Park and began assaulting Jane Doe. The assault continued after the two arrived at Monroy’s home. Jane Doe received treatment for injuries at a Billings hospital. Monroy and Jane Doe were in a dating relationship at the time. Monroy had been convicted in January 2020 and June 2021 of partner or family member assault for assaulting previous girlfriends.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek and Special Assistant U.S Attorney Jeanne Torske are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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GREAT FALLS — A California man suspected of armed fentanyl trafficking in the Great Falls area admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Casey Louis Ream, 37, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Ream faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 17. Ream was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in October 2022, Russell Country Drug Task Force agents in Great Falls were investigating Ream for armed fentanyl trafficking. Ream was arrested in his vehicle and had several fentanyl pills on his person and more pills were visible in the area where he had been sitting. Officers served a search warrant on the vehicle and located a bundle of more than $6,000 in cash and a lock box that contained several thousand fentanyl pills and multiple rounds of ammunition. In a search of a house where Ream had been staying, officers found an AK-style rifle with a high-capacity magazine that had been reported stolen out of Washington state and three 9mm pistols. In later interviews, Ream admitted to owning the firearms seized from the house and that he was felon. Ream further admitted he had brought large quantities of fentanyl pills to sell. Ream has several felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point man accused in the kidnapping and assault of a girl by a group of individuals on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in 2021 today admitted to his role in the abduction, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Cheri Cruz Granbois, 21, pleaded guilty to kidnapping of an individual under 18. Granbois faces a mandatory minimum 20 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other sentencing factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 10. Granbois was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged that on Sept. 15, 2021, a group of individuals lured a 15-year-old girl, identified as Jane Doe, out of her house in Wolf Point and kidnapped her. Granbois offered to pay co-defendant Kaylee Jackson to lure the victim from her house so she could be assaulted. As a result, Jane Doe was lured out of her house, and the situation escalated. Some of the individuals in the group assaulted the victim in her front yard. When eyewitnesses yelled that they were going to call the police, some of individuals kidnapped Jane Doe, forcing her into a vehicle and driving to a vacant field where the assault continued. Granbois grabbed the victim and beat her in the vehicle.

Granbois is the last of six defendants indicted in the case to plead guilty. Co-defendants Dylan Troy Jackson, Kaylee Jade Jackson, Patti Jo Annunciata Mail, Lavanchie Patricia Goodbird and Elmarie Amelia Weeks have pleaded guilty to charges and are pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy A. Johnson and Ryan G. Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and Wolf Point Police Department.  

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