District of Montana

GREAT FALLS — A federal jury today convicted a Wolf Point man of raping and assaulting a woman near Poplar on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in 2017, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

The jury found Luke John Scott, Sr., 33, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse and of assault by striking, beating or wounding, a misdemeanor. The three-day trial began on Jan. 26.

Scott faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for March 24. Scott was detained.

Scott also is pending sentencing on March 24 in a separate case for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and felony child abuse. A federal jury convicted Scott of those crimes on Nov. 19, 2020.

“Mr. Scott poses a clear danger to women in the community. Violence, including sexual violence, faced by Native American women must stop. We will prosecute those who prey on women to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley, the FBI and Fort Peck Tribal Law Enforcement for investigating and prosecuting this case,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.

At trial, the prosecution presented evidence that on July 7, 2017, Scott approached the victim, identified as Jane Doe, on the street, told her he had a bottle of vodka and that a relative was fishing by the river. The victim went with Scott to the river, where he told her that another person had paid him to get rid of her. Scott tried to choked Jane Doe and then sexually assaulted her. Jane Doe reported the assault to law enforcement and was transported to the hospital in Poplar.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Tribal Law Enforcement.

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GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman who admitted trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found five pounds of the drug and a gun in her vehicle was sentenced today to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Opal Inez Cox, 40, pleaded guilty on Oct. 6, 2020 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris ordered Cox detained.

The prosecution said in court documents that law enforcement learned Cox was distributing meth in Montana and stopped her vehicle as she returned to the state from Las Vegas, Nevada, in December 2019. Law enforcement found about five pounds of meth and a 9mm pistol hidden together in the center console of the car. Five pounds of meth is the equivalent of 18,120 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, FBI, IRS and Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 through 2019. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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GREAT FALLS — A Butte man having been convicted of a felony was sentenced today to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a gun, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Joseph Alfred Edward Lytell Torres, 30, pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Torres was detained.

In court documents filed by the prosecution, officers with Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement responded on May 12, 2020 to an area behind a Butte residence where a caller informed officers she had seen a male driving a motorcycle with a gun in his hand and heard a “pop, pop.” Officers found a vehicle with a flat tire in the area and two spent 9mm shell casings on the ground. Officers recovered bullet fragments in the wheel and on the ground. Officers contacted the owner of the vehicle, who said she was sitting in the vehicle when it was shot. The owner identified Torres as the shooter.

Law enforcement officers and Montana Probation and Parole officers located Torres two days later at his residence and arrested him. Officers search the garage and found a 9mm pistol under a stack of tires. At the time, Torres was a convicted felon on state supervision.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement and Montana Department of Corrections’ Probation and Parole.

 This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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HELENA — A man who admitted pawning a firearm after having been convicted of a felony was sentenced today to 26 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Daniel Wayne Baker, 52, a transient, pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon presided.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Dec. 2, 2019, Baker possessed and pawned a .357 revolver at a pawnshop in Helena. On Jan. 15, 2020, a woman from the Helena area reported Baker’s possession of the revolver to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office because he still owed her money from the pawn of the firearm. A deputy confirmed with the Montana Department of Corrections that Baker was on state supervision for a 2013 felony conviction. Baker told law enforcement that he took the firearm from the woman because it caused her distress and acknowledged he could not possess firearms because he was a convicted felon.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montana Department of Corrections’ Probation and Parole and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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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 Jan. 21 was:

Michael Cain Gibson, 36, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gibson faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Gibson was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-90.

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 — A Billing man who admitted making grenades to blowup mailboxes and possessing a rifle after a felony conviction was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Foster John Michael Witzel, 31, pleaded guilty on Sept. 1, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a destructive device.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that on Feb. 2, 2020, Witzel was peering into a Billings residence before a homeowner scared him off. Billings Police officers found Witzel nearby and in possession of improvised grenades. Witzel made statements that he had made the devices out of gunpowder and BB’s and that he was going to “blow up mailboxes and stuff.” Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents determined the devices were grenades and that Witzel had not registered them in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record as required.

On June 15, 2020, Witzel was found asleep in a stolen car with an AR style rifle on his lap. Witzel was on probation at the time for a state felony conviction in Montana and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

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

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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BILLINGS – A former Rocky Mountain Bank loan officer who admitted to approving loans to a bank customer while at the same time profiting from private, undisclosed loans to the customer was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $50,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Stephen Phillip Casher, 47, pleaded guilty on June 24, 2020 to bank fraud and to money laundering. Casher was charged in a 14-count superseding indictment alleging bank fraud and related crimes. A jury trial began on June 22, 2020. The prosecution and Casher reached a plea agreement during trial.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters allowed Casher to self-report to prison.

The prosecution presented evidence that Casher worked as a market president for Rocky Mountain Bank (RMB) from about November 2011 until January 2017. During that time, Casher was one of the people responsible for approving bank loans to Larry Price, Jr. or one of Price's related companies. Casher, along with several private investors, also made large, private, high interest loans to Price. Though Casher helped approve many bank loans to Price, neither Casher nor Price disclosed the private loans to RMB. Casher never informed RMB that he had a conflict of interest that might impair his impartiality in reviewing loans involving Price.

In September 2014, RMB loaned H&P Investments $3.75 million. Price controlled H&P investments and acted as an unlimited guarantor of the loan. Casher was one of the bank officials who approved this loan and was responsible for collecting Price's personal financial statement and providing it to the bank. A few days before the bank loan, Casher, along with a private investor, privately loaned Price $900,000. The private loan was specifically concealed and omitted from the personal financial statement that Casher had arranged for Price to sign on the same day the private loan was executed, resulting in a false entry in RMB's books.

In June 2015, RMB loaned Seven Lands Holdings approximately $1.18 million. Price controlled Seven Lands Holdings and acted as a personal guarantor of the loan. Price used the loan to buy five houses and turn them into rental properties. In early 2015, several private investors associated with Casher loaned Price $1.5 million. Casher brokered this deal and eventually received $20,000 as a "thank you" from the private investors.

One of homes Seven Lands Holdings was buying belonged to Casher and, as a result, he was removed from RMB's chain of approval. Nevertheless, Casher provided lender information on the loan and was involved in preparing loan documents. Neither Casher nor Price informed RMB about the $1.5 million private loan before the bank loaned Seven Lands Holdings $1.18 million. RMB's entry misrepresented Price's net worth and liquidity. Casher personally profited from this RMB loan because he received a large portion of loan funds from the sale of his house.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich, Zeno Baucus and Timothy Tatarka prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the IRS.

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BILLINGS –A former board member of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition admitted on Jan. 21 to stealing grant funds for unapproved travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said today.

Barbara Mary Daychief, 43, of Browning, pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds.  Daychief was a board member of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition.  Daychief faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Judge Cavan continued Daychief’s release pending further proceedings. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The prosecution said in court documents that the purpose of the Lame Deer-based Coalition is to help Native American victims of domestic and sexual violence.  The Coalition receives funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), which provides grants for victim services.

While serving on the Coalition’s board, Daychief received travel advances for travel to various locations.  In November of 2017, Daychief claimed $1,874.18 in travel money for a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada.  All travel funds provided to Daychief were funds from OVW.

Although initially intending to travel to the claimed destinations, Daychief ultimately did not travel as planned.  Rather than pay back the travel advances as required, Daychief kept the money for herself. When interviewed by law enforcement, Daychief admitted she obtained travel advances despite not traveling as claimed.  Because Daychief has kept the federal funds for approximately three years, her actions intentionally deprived OVW from using the federal funds for other desired purposes.   

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Weldon and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General.

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GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man who admitted possessing methamphetamine for distribution  after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to seven years and eight months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Kyle Frank Russette, 26, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2020 to possession with intent to possess meth.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Jan. 16, 2020, a Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement officer responded to a call to check on a vehicle that was parked and running outside of a residence. The officer found Russette asleep behind the wheel of a running pickup truck. Russette did not comply with directions to roll down his window or open his door, and a passenger exited the truck. While the officer returned to his vehicle to use the radio, Russette drove across a field and onto a road. Russette then led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit, leaving the reservation and leading officers down snowy dirt roads. During the pursuit, an officer saw the driver’s door of the truck open and a handgun appear in the snow next to the vehicle. Russette eventually jumped from the vehicle as it careened into coulee and he was detained. He refused to provide his name, claimed to be someone else and had $668 in cash in a pocket.

Law enforcement recovered a 9mm loaded handgun from where Russette had thrown it from the truck. Officers executed a search warrant on the truck and found 164 grams of meth and a pistol. A confidential source identified Russette as a meth distributor on the reservation and had purchased the drug from Russette multiple times.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Tri-Agency Drug Task Force and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 through 2019. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

 

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MISSOULA – A Manhattan man who was convicted at trial of providing false information on a form when trying to buy a firearm was sentenced today to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said today.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, on Oct. 1, 2020, found Joshua Rodney Meech, 29, guilty of false statement during a firearms transaction. The one-day bench trial was held on Sept. 28, 2020.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Meech attempted to buy a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from Bob Ward & Sons, Inc., in Bozeman on April 4, 2020. In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Meech, while shopping for firearms at the store, completed a Firearms Transaction Report, known at ATF Form 4473, signed and dated the form and provided it to an employee for a background check. A few days later, Bob Ward's was notified that Meech's request had been denied.

Meech had checked a box on the form that he was not subject to a court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening his child, and intimate partner or the child of such a partner. On Jan. 10, 2020 the District Court in Gallatin County issued a temporary restraining order against Meech directing him not to commit any acts of violence or harass, threaten, abuse or stalk the petitioner, now his ex-wife, and three minor children. The parties agreed to a Stipulated Order of Protection, which was signed by Meech and his attorney, on Feb. 26, 2020. The Stipulated Order was to remain in effect until the parties mutually agreed to dissolve it or upon further order of the court. The Stipulated Order included the statement, "Federal law provides penalties for possessing, transporting, shipping or receiving any firearm or ammunition."

The Stipulated Order was terminated on May 20, 2020 by a motion from the petitioner.

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

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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BILLINGS — A Glendive man who admitted producing and possessing child pornography videos for years was sentenced today to 40 years in prison followed by supervised release for life, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Anthony Dwayne Boldt, 44, pleaded guilty on July 16, 2020 to production of child pornography and to possession of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters also ordered $36,972 in restitution.

“Not only are vulnerable child victims harmed by the production of this explicit and unlawful material, they are harmed again and again and again when that material is shared, usually through the internet, and then possessed. This sentence sends a powerful message that those who commit these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that in January 2020, law enforcement received information that Boldt may have been videotaping sexual activity with a juvenile girl. Law enforcement also received digital storage cards from Boldt’s residence and files on the cards confirmed the reported activity.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on Bolt’s residence and seized multiple items of electronic media. A forensic analysis of the media found videos of Boldt and the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct, in addition to videos of other victims, including prepubescent children, engaging in similar conduct. In an interview with law enforcement, the victim confirmed that she was the person depicted with Boldt in many of the videos and that Boldt had sexually assaulted her since about 2014.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.

 

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BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man who admitted strangling his girlfriend on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Augustus Christopher Wolfblack, also known as Augustus Christopher Flatmouth, 19, pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation of a dating partner on Aug. 11, 2020.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Wolfblack assaulted the victim on Sept. 15, 2019 in Lodge Grass. Wolfblack struck the victim with his fists, put her in a headlock and strangled her. The victim was treated at the Indian Health Services in Crow Agency for injuries. When interviewed, Wolfblack initially denied assaulting the victim except to say he grabbed her arm after she hit him in the head. After being pressed, Wolfblack admitted he had assaulted the victim, although he claimed that he did not squeeze her neck.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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MISSOULA — A Eureka man who admitted trafficking methamphetamine was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison and four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Tracy Eugene Conard, 50, pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2020 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office detectives were investigating Conard and in October 2019, conducted a monitored drug deal with another informant to buy drugs from Conard. In November 2019, law enforcement received information that Conard was in Kalispell buying meth. Conard was stopped returning from Kalispell. A passenger confirmed they were returning from a residence near Kmart in Kalispell where Conard gone to pick up his truck. Conard had $2,127 in his pocket along with a small amount of marijuana.

Based on corroborating information and other observations, officers obtained a search warrant for Conard’s residence in Eureka. There, officers located scales, meth pipes, about 53.6 grams of meth, 9.9 grams of black tar heroin, small plastic baggies and firearms and ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Clark prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

 

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GREAT FALLS — A Hays man who admitted to drinking and driving a vehicle when it crashed and killed a passenger in 2019 on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation pleaded guilty today to charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Tough Arthur Snow, 22, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Snow faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Snow was released pending further proceedings. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for April 29.

The prosecution said in court documents that at about 6:10 a.m. on June 8, 2019, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services officers and emergency medical providers responded to a 911 call of a vehicle crash on the gravel road that runs through Mission Canyon on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

Medical responders found two men, Snow and John Doe 1, walking on the road. Snow denied they had been in an accident and said Doe 1 was injured. Responders attended to Doe 1 and Snow left the scene on foot. Snow did not report an accident to the medical responders and did not report that anyone else was injured. Doe 1 told the medical responders there had been accident just down the road and that Snow had been the driver. A responder continued down the road and found a truck on its passenger side in a creek by the road. The truck was on top of a victim, identified as John Doe 2, who had been partially ejected and was deceased.

Law enforcement officers located Snow at his mother’s residence. Snow showed signs of impairment, claimed not to know about the crash and that he arrived home at about 5:30 a.m. after being out and drinking beer. Snow consented to a blood draw, which determined he had a blood alcohol concentration of .116 percent.

A Montana Highway Patrol crash scene investigation determined the truck was registered to Snow and that it was going too fast for the road, failed to negotiate a curve and went off the road, landing on its side in the creek. Contributing factors were speed, reckless driving and alcohol impairment.

Doe 1 reported that Snow was the driver, Doe 2 was the front passenger and that he was the rear seat passenger. Doe 1 told investigators the three of them had been drinking together that night, got into the truck and then Snow went fast and lost control.  Doe 1 reported they both knew Doe 2 was dead when they walked away from the crash scene.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services and Montana Highway Patrol.

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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 and pleading not guilty on Jan. 4 was:

Taylor Ray Bogard, 21, of Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bogard faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,00 fine and three years of supervised release. Bogard was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missoula Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-49.

Grady Harold Sullivan, Jr., 44, of Eureka, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Sullivan faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Sullivan was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Montana’s Probation and Parole Division and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-55.

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

Jose Eduardo Garcia, 29, hometown unknown, 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, Garcia faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Garcia was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-134.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Jan. 5 was:

Eduardo Luis Diaz, 26, of Chicago, IL, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Diaz faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Diaz was released pending further proceedings. The National Park Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-56.

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 – A Billings man who admitted strangling a woman during an argument at a residence on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Leslie Charles Hogan, Jr., 37, pleaded guilty on July 21, 2020 to assault of a dating partner by strangulation and to domestic assault by an habitual offender.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Hogan was detained.

The prosecution said in court records that on May 17, 2017, the victim and Hogan, who were in a relationship, were at the victim's residence when the couple got into a verbal argument. The fight turned physical. Hogan pushed the victim up against a wall and strangled her until she was almost unconscious. Another person in the residence struck and pushed Hogan to stop the strangulation. The victim sought medical treatment.

Hogan has two prior convictions for domestic assault.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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GREAT FALLS — A Utah man who towed a camper to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and trafficked methamphetamine in the community was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Andrew Michael Gomez, 33, of Ogden, Utah, pleaded guilty on Sept. 14, 2020 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that Gomez, and his co-defendant, Jeffrey Allen Dabb, 39, of Ogden, Utah, towed a camper from Utah and rented a vacant lot on the reservation. In August 2019, a Wolf Point Police officer received information about drug activity on property where the camper was parked. The officer obtained a tribal search warrant to enter the property and seize the camper. Gomez, Dabb, and another individual were in the camper. Dabb said that they were in the area to work in the North Dakota oil fields and denied there was anything illegal in the camper.

During a search of the camper, law enforcement found more than 6.5 ounces of meth, drug ledgers, electronic money transfer receipts showing money wires to individuals in Utah, a set of brass knuckles with a built-in knife, scales, baggies and other drug paraphernalia.

Gomez attempted to further the meth trafficking conspiracy while incarcerated on state charges by urging individuals to recover and sell the drugs, which he thought were still hidden in the camper.

Dabb was convicted in the case and sentenced to 51 months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services, Wolf Point Police Department and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted illegally possessing a gun after having been convicted of a felony was sentenced today to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Roosevelt Kenneth Thompson, 35, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that a Missoula Police Department officer stopped a vehicle in which Thompson was riding on Feb. 4, 2020. The officer learned from dispatch that Thompson was on parole. The driver informed the officer that Thompson had a gun on his person. Thompson had prior felony convictions. The officer had Thompson exit the vehicle, and Thompson informed the officer of the gun. Officers located a .45-caliber gun in a holster on Thompson’s chest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Clark prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missoula Police Department.

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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GREAT FALLS — A former Indian Health Services doctor who worked on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and admitted using his job to prescribe a diabetes drug from a pharmacy in exchange for kickbacks was sentenced today to three months in prison, two years of supervised release and fined $10,000, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Dr. Arnold Scott Devous, 68, of Billings, pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, 2020 to federal medical officer with conflict of interest.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris allowed Devous to self-report to prison.

“Dr. Devous used his position and ability to exploit patients in the Blackfeet community.  These kinds of kickback schemes erode the public’s trust in its healthcare providers at a time when we need that trust more than ever.  We will continue to prosecute these schemes to the full extent of the law,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.

"By engaging in kickback schemes, Dr. Devous committed a serious ethics violation which may result in diminished public trust of federal employees,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to rooting out corruption in our federal healthcare programs.”

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that Devous used his position at IHS as a medical officer and in charge of the diabetes program in Browning to prescribe Farxiga, a Type 2 diabetes medication. Farxiga was not on the IHS formulary and could not be obtained at the facility. From December 2015 until June 2016, Devous solicited multiple pharmacies in Montana to fill expensive prescriptions of Farxiga in exchange for Devous receiving a "cut" of the profits and kickbacks. Government personnel are prohibited from engaging in these types of relationships.

Ultimately, a pharmacy agreed to Devous' terms and paid him $45,540 in approximately six months. Devous first hid the kickbacks by sending the money to his wife, and then he used a prospective business associate. Neither of these options was allowable under the law. When interviewed, Devous admitted that his wife received the money, which was illegal. Devous also admitted he never informed his superiors of the outside income as required by law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

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BILLINGS—A Billings woman who admitted illegally possessing a handgun she threw out of a stolen vehicle during a law enforcement pursuit was sentenced today to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Breanne Lee Wieder, 31, pleaded guilty on Aug. 4, 2020 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Aug. 13, 2019, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Billings Police Department officers pursued a stolen truck in the Lockwood area. Officers saw Wieder, the passenger, throw a pistol out the window. The pursuit ended a short time later. Officers recovered a .22-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number from a front yard. The pistol was loaded with a round in the chamber. Ammunition for the pistol was recovered from the truck and Wieder’s purse. Wieder and the driver and co-defendant, Joseph Alan Sleeping Bear, were arrested for supervision violations and charges related to the stolen vehicle. Sleeping Bear was convicted in the federal case and sentenced to 45 months in prison.

Wieder was on state supervision for a prior felony conviction at the time of the offense and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Montana’s Probation and Parole Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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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 Dec.29 was:

Sean Andrew Shaw, 40, of Billings, 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, Shaw faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Shaw was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-78.

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 Helena man appeared in court today on allegations of sexually exploiting children and receiving child pornography in Missoula and Lewis and Clark counties, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

A criminal complaint unsealed today alleges Joshua Dean Fish, 27, committed the crimes of sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Fish faces 15 years to 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Fish was detained pending further proceedings.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

According to the complaint and affidavit, an investigation began in January when the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a report of suspicious online activity regarding a minor teenage female victim. The investigation led to additional minor female victims. Victims reported that they were promised monetary payments in exchange for photographs of themselves in various stages of undress and nudity through SnapChat, a social media application. The victims reported that the suspect used PayPal to submit payments to the victims, used the fictitious name, Grant Holman, and liked to be called Mr. Fish or Mr. Fishy.

The investigation led to a search of Fish’s residence in Gilbert, AZ, on June 18. Law enforcement seized a cell phone, a laptop computer and numerous hard drives. After examining the electronics that were seized during the search of Fish’s residence, agents discovered hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child pornography, the complaint and affidavit allege. The complaint and affidavit further allege that Fish used, coerced and exploited the victims into producing sexually explicit images of themselves. Fish lived in Missoula and Helena until about June 2018, when he moved to Arizona.

The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Gilbert (AZ) Police Department are investigating the case.

PACER case reference. 20-11.

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 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 Dec. 21 was:

Jennifer Ellen Hernandez, 40, of Sidney, 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, Hernandez faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Hernandez was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-134.

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 – Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson announced today that the District of Montana collected $7,352,119 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2020.  Of this amount, the office collected $2,523,303 in criminal actions and $4,828,816 in civil actions. 

“These funds come from seizing ill-gotten gains from criminals and from civil penalties and debt collections. The money helps to make crime victims whole and benefits the U.S. Treasury, which are priorities of this office. I want to thank our financial litigation unit, the civil and criminal divisions, and all of our employees for their hard work on behalf of victims of crime and government fraud,” Acting U.S. Attorney Johnson said.

Funds or payments collected in criminal judgments include cases involving Encore Services LLC, a Nevada company convicted in 2017 in a public corruption case to defraud the Chippewa Cree Tribe, and James and Timilynn Kisling, a Billings couple who owned a construction company and were convicted in 2019 of tax evasion for using the construction of a Billings mansion to avoid reporting profits.

Some of the funds collected in civil actions include a 2018 case settled with Kalispell Regional Healthcare System for alleged violations of the False Claims Act by paying physicians more than the fair market value.

The Justice Department collected more than $15.9 billion in civil and criminal actions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 ending Sept. 30, 2020. The $15,988,516,670 in collections in FY 2020 represents more than five times the approximately $3.2 billion appropriated budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department combined in that same period. The total includes all monies collected as a result of Justice Department-led enforcement actions and negotiated civil settlements.  It includes more than $13.5 billion in payments made directly to the Justice Department, and more than $2.4 billion in indirect payments made to other federal agencies, states and other designated recipients. 

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.  The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.  While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

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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 and pleading not guilty on Dec. 14 was:

Shawn Kenneth Kolb, 40, of Columbia Falls, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Kolb faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Kolb was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-51.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 15 was:

Michael Jacob Berberick, 37, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Berberick faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Berberick was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-119.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Dec. 15 was:

Kelcey James Morsette, 40, of Box Elder, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Morsette faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Morsette was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-34.

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

 

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GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man on Wednesday admitted assaulting a woman with a hatchet at a residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Austin Lee Pipe, Sr., 30, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. Pipe faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Pipe was detained pending further proceedings. Sentencing was set for April 15, 2021.

The prosecution said in court records that on Feb. 13, 2019, Pipe and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, got into an argument at Pipe’s residence. Pipe grabbed a hatchet and struck the victim in the arm and leg. The victim required medical treatment at the hospital.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Criminal Investigations.

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MISSOULA — A Missoula man, who admitted illegally possessing a firearm that he discharged in his apartment, was sentenced today to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release, said Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson.

Brandon Mitchell Darrah, 35, pleaded guilty on Aug. 20 to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that in December 2019, Darrah was on state probation for a felony drug conviction and was being supervised by the Montana Department of Corrections. On Dec. 11, 2019, Missoula police officers responded to a call of a discharged firearm and, after interviewing a witness, determined that the shot came from Darrah’s apartment. An officer located Darrah on the street near the apartment building. Darrah admitted the shot was fired from his apartment but denied being the shooter. Darrah said the shooter ran off. His statement conflicted with a witness’s statement that Darrah was alone.

Darrah’s probation officer authorized a search of his apartment, and police officers found a revolver, a holster, ammunition, spent casings, gun cleaning accessories and drug paraphernalia. The handgun and some of the ammunition were found in a shoe box in a crawl space above the bathroom.

Darrah admitted to law enforcement that the firearm belonged to him and said the firearm discharge in his apartment was accidental. Darrah also admitted he hid the gun in the box found in the ceiling and that he had lied to police officers. Darrah said he knew he was not supposed to have the firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missoula Police Department, FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

 

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GREAT FALLS — A Havre man who admitted dealing methamphetamine for two years was sentenced today to 66 months in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Terry Lee Wells, Jr., 34, pleaded guilty on Aug. 17 to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that in December 2019, law enforcement had been receiving information about Wells’ involvement in drugs and crime around Great Falls, the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and Havre and began searching for him.

Law enforcement in Havre began to review phone calls from the Hill County Jail and identified numerous inmates who had been calling Wells. Detectives learned through this information that Wells had made a quick trip from Great Falls to Seattle and back in early December.

On Dec. 19, 2019, detectives found Wells driving north from Great Falls to Havre and attempted to stop him. Wells fled and crashed his car. Officers took Wells to the Hill County Jail, where officers found a small baggie of meth.

During an interview with agents on Jan. 6, 2020, Wells admitted he had begun dealing meth in 2017 and continued dealing meth through out 2019. He also admitted he had driven to Seattle on Dec. 5, 2019 to buy meth for redistribution in Montana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Great Falls Police Department and the Tri-Agency Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

 

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BILLINGS – A Laurel man admitted today that he attempted to illegally obtain $35,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal loan program created to help businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Acting U.S Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Matthew Jason Welch, 37, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Welch faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

The indictment against Welch is the first PPP fraud case to be charged in Montana. The PPP program was created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help businesses struggling with the financial effects of the pandemic.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Judge Cavan released Welch pending further proceedings. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that on April 23, Welch submitted a false PPP loan application to one of the participating lenders in the name of Welch Sole Proprietorship seeking about $35,000 to support payroll, lease and mortgage interest costs and utility costs. The PPP application identified Welch as the 100 percent owner of Welch Sole Proprietorship and was signed by Welch.

Welch falsely certified in the application that he was not “subject to an indictment, criminal information, arraignment, or other means by which formal criminal charges are brought in any jurisdiction.” Welch was actually subject to felony criminal charges in Montana and Wyoming. Through email and by phone, Welch repeatedly asserted falsely that he did not have any pending criminal charges and was eligible for a PPP loan.

On May 14, in a phone call with a law enforcement agent posing as a representative of the lender, Walsh falsely stated that he did not have any criminal charges pending against him as of the date of the PPP application, April 23. Investigators also later learned that Welch did not plan to use the loan funds to maintain his payroll but rather to pay off a restitution obligation in one of his felony cases.

In a telephone interview with agents, Welch admitted to submitting the application and materials to the lender and confirmed he was in Montana at the time.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Michael Kakuk and William Johnston, assistant chief of the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, of the U.S. Department of Justice, are prosecuting the case. The Small Business Administration and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case.

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MISSOULA — A California man who admitted mailing methamphetamine and other drugs to Montana for distribution and wiring drug proceeds back to California was sentenced today to six years in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Oscar Noe Celio Luna, 32, of Bakersfield, CA, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

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

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that law enforcement learned Luna was mailing drugs from California since at least 2017. Law enforcement made controlled buys of drugs, including more than 500 grams of meth, from Luna. One pound of meth is 453 grams. In April, Luna sent 466 grams of 100 percent pure meth and 47.7 grams of heroin to Montana. The investigation also determined that Luna wired drug proceeds, including about $35,360 from Butte to California, to further promote drug trafficking.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Helena Police Department, the Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

 

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BILLINGS — A Charlo man convicted at trial of sexually abusing minor girls in Lodge Grass on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 70 months in prison and five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

After a three-day trial, a jury on July 13 found Jack Preston Coversup, 58, guilty of sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact.

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

During trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Coversup had sexually molested minor girls in a Lodge Grass residence from about December 2015 to February 2016. The victims were under the age of 16.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Godfrey and Lori Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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MISSOULA – A Plains man who admitted creating and transporting child pornography videos was sentenced today to 240 months in prison following by 10 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

David Paul Farrar, 58, pleaded guilty on Aug. 4 to sexual exploitation of a child and transportation of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Farrar was detained.

“Homeland Security Investigations special agents are proud to work closely with the Sanders County Sheriff’s Department to target and arrest individuals who prey on women and children in what should be the safety of their own homes,” said Steven Cagen, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Denver. “Farrar’s sentencing sends a clear message, if you harm children, we will work tirelessly to find you and to bring you to justice.”

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that while Farrar was away in Idaho in June 2019, he allowed a friend to stay at his home in Plains. The friend viewed electronic storage cards found in Farrar's house and saw that they contained sexually explicit photographs of a female child. The friend reported her findings to law enforcement.

An HSI agent obtained a search warrant for Farrar's residence and seized multiple computers and electronic storage devices. An analysis of the seized items determined they contained video files of the victim and were created sometime in 2013 or 2014. The videos were created using a cell phone or digital camera and contained lewd and lascivious images. Agents determined Farrar created the videos because the viewer can see his hand and hear his voice. Farrar also admitted to agents that he created the videos of the victim.

Agents also found a video of two other minor girls that contained lewd and lascivious images. The investigation determined that Farrar electronically transferred that video to a file on one of his computers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by HSI.

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.

 

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 Dec. 1 was:

Hunter Quinn Braden, 21, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Braden faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Braden was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-122.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Dec. 3 was:

Robert Brandon Callison, 31, of Hamilton, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of meth to a person under 21 and felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most crime, Callison faces a minimum 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Callison was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-50.

Appearing on Dec. 2 and pleading not guilty was:

Luis Alberto Rocha, 38, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rocha faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Rocha was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Missouri River Drug Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-31.

Appearing and pleading not guilty on Dec. 1 was:

Robert John Barker, 49, of Gatesville, Texas, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted of the most serious crime, Barker faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Barker was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-25.

John Gary Yorgason, 48, of Corvallis, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Yorgason faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Yorgason was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-45.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Dec. 1 was:

Kristina Dawn Russette, 30, of Spokane, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Russette faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Russette was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Service and Tri-Agency Drug Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-85.

Jeffrey Blaine Dolphay, 40, of Havre, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Dolphay faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-85.

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 – A Livingston woman accused of illegally obtaining a firearm for a felon who shot at state probation officers admitted federal charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Tracy Fonda Flanigan, 46, pleaded guilty to false statement during a firearms transaction. Flanigan faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Judge Watters released Flanigan pending further proceedings and set sentencing for April 15, 2021.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that in May 2018, Michael Anderson, a felon, shot at Montana State Probation and Parole Officers who were attempting to conduct a home check. Anderson was convicted in Yellowstone County District Court of assault with a weapon and sentenced to 40 years to the Montana State Prison.

During a search of Anderson’s residence, law enforcement officers found several firearms and ammunition. An investigation determined that one of the firearms recovered was purchased by Flanigan on Nov. 11, 2015. Officers learned that Flanigan purchased an AR-556 rifle at The Fort in Big Timber.

When interviewed by law enforcement, Anderson confirmed he had Flanigan purchase the firearms for him and gave her the money for the purchases. Flanigan knew Anderson was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions. Flanigan eventually admitted purchasing the firearms for Anderson.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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GREAT FALLS — A Utah man who towed a camper to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and trafficked methamphetamine in the community was sentenced today to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jeffrey Allen Dabb, 39, of Ogden, Utah, pleaded guilty on Sept. 1 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that Dabb, and his co-defendant, Andrew Michael Gomez, towed a camper from Utah and rented a vacant lot on the reservation. In August 2019, a Wolf Point Police officer received information about drug activity on property where the camper was parked. The officer obtained a tribal search warrant to enter the property and seize the camper. Dabb, Gomez and another individual were in the camper. Dabb said that they were in the area to work in the North Dakota oil fields and denied there was anything illegal in the camper.

During a search of the camper, law enforcement found more than 6.5 ounces of meth, drug ledgers, electronic money transfer receipts showing money wires to individuals in Utah, a set of brass knuckles with a built-in knife, scales, baggies and other drug paraphernalia.

Gomez pleaded guilty in the case and is awaiting sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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PABLO — Today, at a council meeting of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation (CSKT), U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and the CSKT Council launched a pilot project to develop a Tribal Community Response Plan (TCRP), in accordance with Attorney General William P. Barr’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Initiative, and the President’s Operation Lady Justice Task Force, and in furtherance of the goals of the recently-enacted Savanna’s Act.

The goal of a TCRP is to improve responses to emergent American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) missing person cases by establishing a collaborative response from Tribal governments, law enforcement, and other partners through culturally appropriate guidelines. The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies developed draft guides to assist in developing plans with input from tribal leaders, tribal law enforcement and their communities.

The council meeting was also attended by representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, local law enforcement and community organizations.

The goal is to complete this TCRP by Dec. 11 and when finished, the TCRP will be the first one completed in the country. Lessons learned from the pilot project will be used to improve the draft guides for developing a TCRP before they are released to Tribes across the country.

“I am honored to partner with Chairwoman Fyant and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to launch this important pilot project in Montana.” U.S. Attorney Alme said. “Since Attorney General Barr announced the MMIP Initiative here last year, we have been working hard to complete draft guides to assist our joint efforts to develop a Tribal Community Response Plan specific to the needs, resources and culture of the Flathead Community. In spite of significant challenges brought on by COVID-19, we are pleased to be back almost a year later ready to complete this important step in addressing MMIP cases.  I want to thank all of the partners who have agreed to be a part of this process. After these pilot projects are completed and the guides are finalized, Savanna’s Act directs our office to continue working with partners such as our other Tribal governments to ensure guidelines are developed across the Montana.” 

”Our community worked hard to elevate this issue so it is encouraging to see the effort continue to develop and grow,” said Chairwoman Shelly R. Fyant, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. “We know how important partnerships are and we will continue to collaborate with stakeholders in our community to implement this plan. We remain committed to working hard and applying resources to ensure our people receive justice.”

“The Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force is excited to have the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes be among the first pilot projects for development of Tribal Community Response Plans. We look forward to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our Tribal partners, and local law enforcement on development of the plans,” said Melissa Schlichting, presiding officer of the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force.

Working group meetings with representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the CSKT, law enforcement (including the Flathead Tribal Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, Polson Police Department, and Ronan Police Department) and community organizations will begin next week to develop the TCRP. The TCRP will include guidelines for law enforcement agencies, victim services, community involvement, and media and public communication.

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe’s Tribal Council passed a resolution establishing a work group to address the issue of missing and murdered indigenous people. CSKT developed their own Missing Persons Protocol with Tribal Law and Order and authorized the development of a social media and tip line. CSKT also hosted a training on human trafficking and its correlation to MMIP and held numerous community meetings on safety awareness. An Arlee Youth Group was formed and has hosted Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women presentations on student safety awareness. The Council also voted unanimously to increase the reward money to $11,000 for any information that leads to solving the case of missing CSKT tribal member Jermain Charlo, who went missing in 2018. The Council helps support a Jermain Charlo billboard near Missoula.

For the past two years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Montana has worked with Tribal government partners, the Montana Department of Justice, the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons (MIP) Task Force, the FBI and the BIA to bring awareness to and address this important issue. It hired the country’s first MMIP Coordinator, who has helped coordinate responses to missing person cases; held two statewide trainings for law enforcement on how to use missing person databases and alerts (such as Amber Alerts), and for the public on what to do when a loved one goes missing; brought trainers from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS) to all seven Montana reservations to train community members on how to use that system when a loved one goes missing; participated in the efforts of the Montana MIP Task Force, which have included ensuring that all missing AI/AN persons have been entered into the Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse to ensure they are being looked for; and developed a public service announcement to inform the public about what to do when a loved one goes missing.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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MISSOULA — The former executive manager of a Flathead area irrigation board was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after she admitted stealing from the organization to buy personal items like a calving pen, a guitar and tires, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said today.

Johanna Estella Clark, 44, formerly of Kalispell and currently of Florence, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11 to wire fraud.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided and sentenced Clark to one year and one day in prison and to three years of supervised released. Judge Molloy also ordered Clark to pay $265,131 in restitution.

The prosecution said in court documents in the case that Clark worked for the Flathead Joint Board of Control (FJBC) from 2013 until May 2017. During those years FJBC was a government-owed and operated organization that represented about 2,400 irrigators in the Flathead, Mission and Jocko valleys. The board had 12 elected members and one full-time employee. Clark was the only full-time employee when she started in 2013 and eventually became the executive manager. Clark had the authority to make financial decisions for FJBC and had control of multiple FJBC bank cards and signature stamps for all of the board members, which she could use to issue checks.

In August 2014, Clark began making personal charges on FJBC credit cards and continued the activity until shortly before her termination in May 2017. Purchases included furniture, a calving pen, a guitar and accessories and tires for a personal vehicle.

Clark attempted to mislead investigators about her fraud by drafting a memorandum with signatures of certain FJBC board members that appeared to authorize her to charge personal expenses to FJBC’s bank cards. Investigators determined that Clark likely used the board members’ signature stamps to sign the memo, and the board members either denied or could not recall giving her permission to use board funds for personal expenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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BILLINGS — United States Attorney Kurt Alme today announced his resignation as the U. S. Attorney for the District of Montana effective Dec. 2, 2020.

A Montana native graduating high school in Miles City, Alme was recommended by Senator Daines, nominated by President Trump, and unanimously confirmed for the office by the Senate in September 2017.  Prior to his confirmation, Alme was President and General Counsel of the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, which supports the Ranch as it serves over 600 emotionally troubled youth, including those with substance abuse disorders.

“I want to express my gratitude to Senator Daines for recommending me and to President Trump for nominating me for this position,” Alme said. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve with the outstanding attorneys and professional staff in this office.”

During his tenure at the U. S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), Alme focused on reducing meth-related violent crime, opioid overdose deaths and crime on our Native American reservations.  Under his direction, Assistant U. S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and professional staff in the office increased federal criminal prosecutions by 15% to over 400 defendants per year, except during a short disruption from COVID earlier this year. Those prosecutions include drug trafficking, violent crime on Native American reservations, child pornography, human trafficking, financial and government fraud, immigration, and firearms violations. Alme oversaw over 70 employees in four offices, Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula. The USAO also represented the United States in civil cases in the Montana.

Under his leadership, the USAO launched Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) in 2018 in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to combat increasing meth-related violent crime.  PSN placed priority on federal prosecutions of meth traffickers, armed robbers and violent felons with firearms. Since PSN began, more than 670 cases have been prosecuted statewide, and 293 cases alone in Yellowstone County where 333 pounds of meth and 343 firearms, including 78 semi-automatic rifles have been seized.  After PSN began in Missoula County, murder, robbery and aggravated assaults decreased 25% until increasing again after COVID began.

"Methamphetamine trafficking and abuse has negatively affected the lives of so many in our community,” said Missoula County Sheriff TJ McDermott. “Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Alme, PSN was successfully launched in Missoula County in 2018, where law enforcement partners focused their efforts on prosecuting violent and dangerous offenders and providing addiction and substance abuse treatment options for end users. This collaboration significantly decreased violent crime in Missoula County for the first two years of the initiative leading up to the coronavirus pandemic. I am very thankful for Kurt’s efforts in bringing all of us together to help reduce violent crime in Missoula County,” McDermott said.

Alme also led PSN efforts to reduce demand for meth through improved treatment and prevention, joining with many nonprofit and governmental organizations to form coalitions in both Yellowstone and Missoula counties. Yellowstone Substance Abuse Connect developed a community plan to improve meth treatment and prevention in the county and is now implementing that plan. Missoula Substance Abuse Connect recently received a $248,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) to develop a meth treatment and prevention plan for that community.

“Kurt’s vision and leadership was the cornerstone in creating Yellowstone County's Substance Use Connect Coalition,” said Lenette Kosovich, CEO of Rimrock in Billings. “He saw first hand how the issues of meth related crime were negatively affecting our community and knew it would take all of us to create the solutions.  Kurt's dedication and continual guidance to the work of the SAC catapulted all of us to work even harder to do better.” 

To address both meth-related violent crime and opioid overdoses, Alme, together with Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and the Montana County Attorney’s Association, started the Montana Prosecuting Attorneys’ Drug Enforcement Coordinating Committee to coordinate drug enforcement activities by all law enforcement in Montana, and share information on drug trends and training.

Alme also served as Vice-Chair of the Executive Board of the RMHIDTA, which coordinates law enforcement agencies to address drug threats in a four-state region.  In addition, Alme worked on national drug enforcement issues as a member of the Controlled Substances Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC).

“I have worked with Kurt on a broad range of public safety issues, from missing persons in Indian Country to our drug epidemic and have found him to be highly collaborative and engaged at every level,” said Bryan Lockerby, Administrator of the Division of Criminal Investigation at the Montana Department of Justice, and Chairman of the RMHIDTA. “Kurt has served thoughtfully as Vice-Chairman of RMHIDTA, stood up the Montana Prosecuting Attorney’s Drug Enforcement Coordinating Committee, and led the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiatives. In my 40-year career, I’ve never worked with someone so committed to making our state safer and better,” Lockerby said.

To reduce opioid overdoses from pill diversion by health care workers, pharmacies and others with access to opioids, Alme started a statewide healthcare fraud task force composed of federal and state law enforcement.  Alme also championed the DEA’s Take Back Days to help get unused pills out of bathroom cabinets and destroyed.

Alme served as Vice-Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee, the oldest and largest subcommittee of the AGAC. He prioritized communication and public safety issues with Montana’s tribal governments. During Kurt’s tenure, prosecutions of crimes from the six reservations where the federal government has primary felony jurisdiction increased. Before COVID hit Montana, Alme made more than 20 trips to Montana’s reservations to meet with tribal leaders about public safety, drug trafficking and abuse, missing and murdered indigenous persons (MMIP), and victim services. A dedicated AUSA meets monthly with multidisciplinary teams on the six reservations to ensure child abuse, rape and domestic violence cases are prosecuted and victims receive help.

Alme worked to ensure that federal drug enforcement funding, law enforcement resources, and criminal drug prosecutions on Montana’s reservations all increased.

Through Kurt’s leadership, Montana has been at the national forefront of addressing the issue of MMIP. Alme hired an experienced former FBI agent as the country’s first MMIP Coordinator, who, among other duties, has ensured that the lead law enforcement agency in missing Native American investigations is aware of all available federal resources, including FBI Rapid Deployment Teams. Alme chaired the U. S. Department of Justice MMIP Working Group, which created draft guides to develop Tribal Community Response Plans to improve responses in missing person cases. One of the first tribal partnerships to develop a Plan will be piloted on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana in December.

Under Kurt’s leadership, the USAO partnered with the Montana Department of Justice, FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide two statewide trainings for law enforcement on use of missing person databases and alerts, such as Amber Alerts, and for the public on what to do when a loved one goes missing. The USAO also partnered with tribal governments to provide training to community members on all seven of Montana’s reservations from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS) on what to do when a loved one goes missing. The USAO is a member of the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force which, among other steps, has worked with its tribal representatives to ensure all missing tribal members are being looked for by including them in the state Missing Persons Clearinghouse.

With Kurt’s leadership, the USAO recently expanded its victim services plan to allow for earlier engagement with vulnerable child and female victims, and to work with tribal governments to expand victim services on the reservations. The U. S. Department of Justice recently awarded an additional victim services position to the USAO to implement the plan.

“I appreciate Kurt’s commitment to addressing the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous persons. Kurt’s collaboration and communication with Tribes, and his dedication to building strong partnerships, have served as exactly the type of leadership that was needed to combat MMIP,” said Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Chairwoman Shelly Fyant. 

Alme is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Harvard Law School.  After graduation, he clerked for Montana U. S. District Judge Charles Lovell, was formerly a partner in the regional law firm now known as Crowley Fleck, served as Director of the Montana Department of Revenue under Governor Martz, and served as an AUSA and eventually First Assistant in the USAO.

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BILLINGS – A man pleaded not guilty today to an indictment charging him with first degree murder and other crimes in the shooting death of a victim and wounding of another victim on the Crow Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The indictment charges Taylor Leigh Plain Bull, 27, a transient, with first degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder and two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and Plain Bull is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 24, on Blue Creek Road, on the Crow Indian Reservation, Plain Bull unlawfully killed a person identified as Jane Doe with malice aforethought and that he intentionally assaulted a person identified as John Doe with intent to commit murder. The indictment further alleges Plain Bull used a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in committing the crimes.

First degree murder carries a sentence of mandatory life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Assault with intent to commit murder carries maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The firearms charge carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and ordered Plain Bull detained pending further proceedings.

The FBI investigated the case.

PACER case reference. 20-136.

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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A Montana chiropractor and his wife pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme for the District of Montana.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Jonathan Wilhelm, owned and operated Pro Chiropractic PC (Pro Chiro) and Big Sky Spinal Care Center Inc. (Big Sky). From 2013 through 2018, the Wilhelms directed payments to cash and then did not report the cash transactions on Pro Chiro’s and Big Sky’s books and records, which they provided to a return preparer to prepare the businesses’ tax returns. The Wilhelms knew that omitting the cashed checks and cash payments resulted in an understatement of taxable income totaling $284,691 for tax years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. In total, the defendants caused a tax loss to the IRS of $74,486.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto has scheduled a sentencing for March 12, 2021. At sentencing the defendants each face a maximum sentence of five years. The defendants also each face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Alme commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros and Trial Attorney Sarah Kiewlicz of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

BILLINGS – A man today admitted allegations that he held up a convenience store in Billings and shot the clerk before leaving in a pickup truck, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Darren Samuel Whiteman, 36, a transient, pleaded guilty to robbery affecting commerce and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence as charged in an indictment. Whiteman faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the robbery charge and a mandatory minimum 10 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. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and ordered Whiteman detained pending further proceedings.

The prosecution said in court documents that on Nov. 24, 2019, the Billings Police Department responded to a robbery involving a firearm at the Gas n Go, at 800 Jackson Ave. During the robbery, the clerk was shot in the arm by the suspect, who possessed a pistol. Moments before firing, the victim reported that the suspect said, “Open the cash register. I’m robbing the place. Imma pop this bitch.” The suspect left the store immediately after firing the shot and was seen on surveillance footage leaving the area as a passenger in a pickup truck. Through the investigation, the BPD identified the suspect as Whiteman.

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

This case is part of Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative launched in the fall of 2019 to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Through Project Guardian, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Montana is working to enhance coordination of its federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. In addition, Project Guardian supports information sharing and taking action when individuals are denied a firearm purchase by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for mental health reasons or because they are a prohibited person.

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BILLINGS – A Laurel man who estimated he sold nearly a pound a methamphetamine a week for the past year admitted drug trafficking and firearms crimes today after law enforcement found more than seven pounds of the drug in his residence, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Robert Earnest Frazier II, 45, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Frazier faces mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug crime and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison consecutive to any other sentence on the firearms crime.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and ordered Frazier detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said law enforcement agents used a confidential informant to make two controlled drug purchases of about two ounces of meth each time from Frazier. On Feb. 19, 2019, agents executed a search warrant on Frazier’s residence and vehicle. In the residence, agents found about seven pounds of meth, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms. Two pistols were found in the same safe in which Frazier stored meth. In Frazier’s vehicle, agents found another large stash of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

In a recorded statement, Frazier admitted to being a meth distributer and estimated he had sold nearly one pound of meth a week for the last year. Frazier also said he received a 10-pound delivery of meth the last week and that what agents found was what was left. In all, Frazier estimated he had received three shipments of meth totaling 37 to 40 pounds. Forty pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 144,960 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 through 2019. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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BILLINGS—A Lame Deer man who admitted attempting to sexually abuse a minor was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison and 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jason Jay Tallbull, 39, pleaded guilty on June 18 to attempted sexual abuse of a minor.

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

The prosecution said in court records that in December 2018, Tallbull and the victim, a boy between the ages of 12 and 16, were at Tallbull’s residence on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Both Tallbull and the victim were drinking. At some point, the victim tried to leave, but Tallbull made a sexually-charged comment, overpowered the victim and knocked him out. When the victim woke up, he was wearing different clothing and had injuries. He underwent a sexual assault examination.  

When interviewed by the FBI, Tallbull said he and the victim had been drinking. He did not remember exactly what occurred, but that he felt like something happened. Tallbull admitted he was probably physically attracted to the victim.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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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 Nov. 17 was:

Jerard David Threefingers, 31, of Lame Deer, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted of the most serious crime, Threefingers faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Threefingers was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-101.

Appearing and pleading not guilty Nov. 19 was:

Tyler Nathaniel Patterson, 26, of Billings, on charges of false statement during firearms transaction and illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Patterson faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Patterson was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-127.

Kaycee Nicole Kolka, 26, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Kolka faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Kolka was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-126.

Jennifer Lee Adams, 41, of Billings, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction. If convicted of the most serious crime, Adams faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Adams was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-118.

Gary Lee Paul Adams, 38, of McCammon, Idaho, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Adams faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Adams was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Manhattan Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-27.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Nov. 17 was:

Laura Ann Matye, 42, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin. If convicted of the most serious crime, Matye faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Mayte was released pending further proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-80.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 17 was:

Scott George Michael Daniels, 31, of Kalispell, on charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession with intent to distribute drugs and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Daniels faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Daniels was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-46.

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 – An indictment filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday charges a Pryor man suspected in the fatal shooting of a woman and wounding of a man on the Crow Indian Reservation with murder, assault and firearms crimes, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said today.

The indictment charges Taylor Leigh Plain Bull, 27, with first degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder and two counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The indictment alleges that on Oct. 24, on Blue Creek Road, on the Crow Indian Reservation, Plain Bull unlawfully killed a person identified as Jane Doe with malice aforethought and that he intentionally assaulted a person identified as John Doe with intent to commit murder. The indictment further alleges Plain Bull used a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in committing the crimes.

First degree murder carries a sentence of mandatory life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Assault with intent to commit murder carries maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The firearms charge carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and Plain Bull is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

An arraignment on the indictment is scheduled for Nov. 23. Plain Bull is detained.

The FBI investigated the case.

PACER case reference. 20-136.

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—Missoula Substance Abuse Connect, a coalition created to develop a comprehensive community plan to reduce substance abuse, including methamphetamine-related violent crime, in Missoula County, has received a $248,000 federal grant as part of an overall initiative to fight violent crime, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy awarded initial funding of $248,000 through 2021 to the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Rocky Mountain HIDTA allocated the funds to the Missoula Police Department. The MPD will administer the grant through United Way of Missoula County, which is leading the Missoula Substance Abuse Connect effort.

Missoula Substance Abuse Connect is a coalition of more than 40 non-profit, business and government organizations working to reduce demand for meth by developing a drug prevention, treatment and recovery support plan for the community. The coalition was organized through the leadership of United Way and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a U.S. Department of Justice initiative reinvigorated two years ago to reduce violent crime through enforcement and prevention.

Violent crime increased 49% from 2011 to 2017 in Missoula County. PSN, which focuses on prosecuting meth dealers, armed robbers, and violent offenders with firearms, began at the end of April 2018. Over the next two years, murders, robberies and aggravated assaults decreased 25 percent. Since COVID-19 arrived, however, those same violent crimes increased 40% for the seven months of April through October when compared with the same period last year.

As part of PSN Missoula County, federal, state and local law enforcement unanimously identified meth as the leading cause of the increase in violent crime. Since COVID-19 began, Millenium Health reported in July that urinalysis positivity rates for meth increased 34% in Montana.

“We are pleased the community received this grant, which funds an important part of PSN’s goal to reduce violent crime. Strong enforcement by our federal, state and local enforcement partners is critical to shutting down meth trafficking organizations that push this highly addictive drug, but it is not enough. We also need prevention and treatment services to help reduce demand. We are pleased to be part of Missoula Substance Abuse Connect.” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“Drug enforcement is more effective if done in partnership with prevention and treatment programs that reduce demand. An epidemic of substance abuse – particularly meth use – is overwhelming local courts, jail and hospitals and is ravaging families. We must break this terrible cycle by providing greater access to effective prevention and treatment programs and support for people in recovery,” said Susan Hay Patrick, chief executive officer of United Way of Missoula County.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community to collaborate on one of the most pressing challenges of our time—methamphetamine.  Working together, we can prevent youngsters from ever using meth, provide local treatment for those struggling with addiction and prosecute and bring to justice drug dealers who come here to push meth,” said Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst.   

“The Missoula Police Department is proud to be a part of Missoula Substance Abuse Connect.  We look forward to the prevention and treatment opportunities this program will provide our community.  Missoula Substance Abuse Connect, coupled with our enforcement efforts with our law enforcement partners, will help us reduce drug-related crimes in Missoula,” Missoula Police Chief Jaeson White said.

“The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to this partnership with the United Way to provide assistance through Missoula Substance Abuse Connect to those in our community who are dealing with addictions and substance abuse issues. I’d also like to thank United Way of Missoula CEO Susan Hay Patrick for her efforts on this project,” Missoula County Sheriff TJ McDermott said.

Missoula Substance Abuse Connect will be managed by United Way of Missoula County and a volunteer board of business and community leaders. The project director is Shannan Sproull, who is an authority on substance abuse prevention with decades of experience in the public and private sectors. The project chair is Janna Lundquist, a respected organizational consultant and former United Way board president with an extensive background in business and nonprofit leadership. Project leaders are recruiting an executive committee and working group from among the 40 public and private coalition member organizations.

PSN Missoula County’s partners include the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Missoula  County Attorney’s Office; Montana Department of Justice’s Prosecution Services Bureau, Highway Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation; the Montana Department of Correction’s Adult Probation and Parole Division; the Missoula Police Department; the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

For more information about Missoula Substance Abuse Connect, contact Susan Hay Patrick, CEO, United Way of Missoula County, susan@MissoulaUnitedWay.org; 406-360-0596.

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Great Falls – A federal jury today convicted a Wolf Point man accused of assaulting and abusing a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

After a three-day trial that began on Nov. 17, the jury found Luke John Scott, Sr., 33, guilty of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and felony child abuse.

Scott faces a maximum sentence of a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for March 24, 2021 and ordered Scott detained.

“One of the most important obligations we have as a society is protecting our children. Those who harm them, like Mr. Scott, will be held accountable. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley, the FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services for their investigation and prosecution of this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

The prosecution presented evidence in court documents and at trial that in March 2019 in Wolf Point, Scott assaulted a minor child, who was under the age of 18, by repeated blunt force trauma to the face and strangulation. The victim was treated for serious injuries.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services.

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GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man, whom law enforcement officers revived from a drug overdose and later arrested after a chase, was sentenced today to six years in prison and four years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin in the community, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Russell Robert Moddison, 48, pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that for months, the Russell Country Drug Task Force had been receiving reports that Moddison was trafficking drugs in Great Falls. On Feb. 19, Great Falls police officers responded to a residence for a report of a man who was unresponsive with blue lips. Officers saw Moddison on the floor and an unidentified male attempting to give him CPR. Officers took over the CPR. A female told officers that Moddison could have taken drugs and had asthma. Officers gave Moddison a dose of Narcan and continued chest compressions until medical responders arrived. Moddison began to wake up and mumble. The other people in the residence fled at that point, and Moddison was taken to the hospital for further treatment.

Probation and parole officers searched the residence and found $5,955 in Moddison’s wallet, drug paraphernalia and small amounts of meth in his car.

A few weeks later, officers got into a chase with Moddison and found him in possession of meth and heroin and $5,620 in cash.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Great Falls Police Department and the Russell Country Drug Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

 

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BILLINGS — A man and woman who admitted possessing methamphetamine to sell after law enforcement officers found the drug hidden under carpeting in their Ballantine residence were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

William Curtis Hill, Jr, 39, of Bozeman, and Christine Jean Reiling, 43, of Park City, each pleaded guilty on June 25 to possession with intent to distribute meth.

Hill was sentenced to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release.

Reiling was sentenced to three years in prison and four years of supervised release.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that on Feb. 22, 2019, law enforcement received permission to search Hill and Reiling’s residence for a fugitive. During the search, officers pulled back loose carpeting in the master bedroom and found a clear bag containing 28.1 grams of meth. Officers also found a smaller bag of meth in a spare bedroom. In a subsequent search, officers found another small bag of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Hill and Reiling both told officers the meth found in the master bedroom had been given to them to sell by two of Reiling’s friends. Hill said he hid the meth under the carpet.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 48% from 2013 to 2019. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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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 Nov. 12 was:

Reuben Charles Blackwolf, 44, of Box Elder, on charges of second-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blackwolf faces a maximum life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Blackwolf was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-120.

Antoine Robert Threefingers, 36, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault on a federal officer, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm in a violent crime, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Threefingers faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Threefingers was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-131.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Nov. 10 was:

Chase Zachary Taylor Estes, 22, of Helena, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and receipt of a firearm while under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Estes faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Estes was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-12.

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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