District of Montana

BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man today admitted he hit his girlfriend repeatedly in the face, causing facial and dental injuries, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Anfernee Jamal Whiteman, aka Anfernee Jamal Limberhand, 21, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial injury to a dating partner. Whiteman faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

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

In court documents filed by the prosecution, the assault occurred on Sept. 14, 2019 near the commodities building in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. A Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officer responded to a report of a woman being beaten up and heard the victim scream as he neared the area. The officer saw Whiteman standing over the victim.

The victim was upset, bloody and screaming at Whiteman. Whiteman attempted to flee and was arrested. Whiteman's knuckles were swollen and there was blood on his pants and shirt. The victim was taken to the Lame Deer Indian Health Service where she said her "boyfriend hit her repeatedly in the face." The victim had abrasions on her head and face and dental injuries from the assault.

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

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BILLINGS— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme encouraged everyone to join him in recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.

“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”

"Every day in Montana, law enforcement officers put their own lives at risk to protect us and our way of life. Some sacrifice their bodies and some give up their lives. To all of you who carry a gun and a badge out on the street, protecting us while exposing yourselves to dangers like coronavirus and worse, know that you have our sincere thanks," U.S. Attorney Alme said.

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.   

 Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.

Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including one officer here in Montana.  Gallatin County Sheriff's Deputy Jake Allmendinger was killed in an accident as he was assisting a stranded motorist.

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.

 The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm (EDT).  The online event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.

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MISSOULA—A Ronan woman who admitted stealing more than $300,000 from her employer and evading paying income taxes was sentenced today to 25 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Kerry Snow Yeager, 48, pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and tax evasion.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided. Judge Christensen ordered $252,740 in restitution, with $216,231 to the victim owner and $36,509 to the IRS.

The prosecution said in court documents that Yeager had worked for a company in Ronan for several years and embezzled $316,231 from the firm beginning in 2015 until August 2017. Yeager used various methods to steal the money including unauthorized cash withdrawals at ATMs, unauthorized use of a company debit card and cashing and depositing checks written on the company's account with a forged signature of the victim owner. Yeager also failed to pay taxes on the embezzled money in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The victim owner discovered Yeager was stealing in August 2017. When confronted, Yeager admitted to the fraud. After the fraud was discovered, a relative of Yeager's paid the victim owner $100,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation Division.

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MISSOULA—A West Yellowstone man who admitted having unregistered improvised bombs after officers found three small devices in his truck was sentenced today to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Charles Gibson Bailey, 33, pleaded guilty in January to possession of unregistered explosive devices.

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

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Feb. 26, 2019, the West Yellowstone City Court issued a protection order against Bailey. On March 27, 2019, in connection with an investigation into Bailey’s violation of the protection order, law enforcement officers searched Bailey’s truck.

During the search, officers seized three small destructive devices. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expert examined the devices and concluded they were designed as weapons and were properly identified as improvised explosive devices. Bailey did not register the devices with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF, West Yellowstone Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, National Park Service and Forest Service.

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 Miles City man admitted today he illegally possessed a handgun after having been convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Braden Charles Losing, 25, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and to possession of a firearm while being a user of any controlled substance. For each charge, Losing faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set at a later time. Losing was detained.

The prosecution said in court documents that Losing had a prior felony drug conviction in Custer County. On Aug. 24, 2019, Glendive law enforcement officers responded to a report of a man passed out and unresponsive in a truck. Officers found Losing unconscious in the passenger seat and observed drug paraphernalia. Medical responders administered Naloxone and Losing regained consciousness.  Officers executed a search warrant on the truck and found drug paraphernalia along with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun loaded with a magazine.

Losing admitted to officers that on the day of his overdose, he smoked meth and injected fentanyl and could not remember anything after that. Losing did indicate he knew the handgun was in the truck and that it "probably" would contain his DNA and fingerprints. He acknowledged he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing the gun.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter 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 Florida woman who admitted driving to Montana last year to try to pick up three illegal aliens from Mexico for transportation back to Florida was sentenced today to three years of probation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Lucia Marlene Mendez, 34, of Tampa, Fla., pleaded guilty in January to attempted transportation of an illegal alien.

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

The prosecution said in court records that at about 4:15 a.m. on Sept. 8, 2019, a Border Patrol agent saw a suspicious black 2018 Dodge Caravan, with a Florida license plate registered to a vehicle rental company, driving in Sweetgrass, about a block from where three illegal aliens from Mexico had been apprehended.

Border Patrol agents pulled over the Caravan, and Mendez, the driver, and a passenger, her boyfriend, were identified. Mendez is a U.S. citizen, but boyfriend was an undocumented alien from Mexico and in the country illegally. Mendez initially told agents that she was on vacation and was looking for a hotel. After being told that one of the undocumented aliens had already told an agent that she was coming to pick them up, Mendez acknowledged she was there to get them.

Mendez told agents that she was to be paid $600 for driving from Florida to Sweetgrass to get the illegal aliens. She was given $1,000 for gas and hotels for roundtrip travel to Montana and back to Florida. Mendez told agents that had she realized how far Sweetgrass was from Florida, she would have asked for more money.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol.

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GREAT FALLS—A Fairfield man who admitted posing as a financial services manager to steal more than $700,000 from a family and then spent the money for his own benefit was sentenced today to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Michael Lee Van Auken, 41, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and allowed Van Auken to self-surrender. Judge Morris ordered Van Auken to pay $719,340 restitution to the family and $165,195 restitution to the IRS.

 "Montanans have a tradition of trust when it comes to doing business with one another. We’re also raised to pay our taxes. When someone violates that trust to embezzle a family's money for his own gain and avoids paying income taxes, he will be caught and prosecuted," U.S. Attorney Alme said.

 “Special Agents pride themselves on untangling complex financial transactions created by fraudsters such as Van Auken,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Andy Tsui.  “Along with protecting the integrity of our nation’s tax system, IRS-Criminal Investigation seeks to help individuals and entities who suffer financial harm at the hands of swindlers and bring them to justice.”

"Not only did the family suffer a devastating financial loss, but they are also left to deal with the consequences of Mr. Van Auken's misrepresented tax services," said Paul Haertel, special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City FBI.  "The case should serve as a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will go after unscrupulous individuals who deceive and defraud unwitting people of their hard-earned money.  We also encourage the public to do their due diligence and research when looking to invest and to immediately report any fraud to police or the FBI."

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Van Auken formed various business entities to hide his embezzlement from a Montana family. Van Auken offered to provide the family various financial services, including investment opportunities, filing of personal and business taxes and the creation of wealth management plans.

Investigators found that Van Auken failed to provide the services as promised. Instead, Van Auken used the money for personal expenses and invested in foreign currency trading to try to recover amounts owed, none of which the victims authorized. Van Auken defrauded the victims of approximately $719,340.

As part of the scheme, Van Auken misrepresented his background to gain the victims' trust by claiming he had received a law degree and an accounting degree. Van Auken further misrepresented the value of the "investments" to the victims by creating fraudulent documents and telling them the investments were doing well, when in fact, the investments did not exist and the money was not invested as claimed.

In addition, Van Auken created a wealth management plan that he claimed would double the victims' net worth in five years. The plan induced the victims to use Van Auken's services.  When the victims asked Van Auken return their funds, he failed to do so.

Van Auken claimed he would invest the victims' money in a new drill bit for oil drilling and fracking industries. Instead, Van Auken invested the money in foreign currency trading in an attempt to repay the funds owed and embezzled the money for his own personal expenses.

As part of the scheme, Van Auken laundered $210,000 he received from the victims for the drill bit investment by spending it on unauthorized expenditures and transferring $100,000 to a personal account.

Van Auken also filed a false tax return in 2018 for tax year 2014 in which he claimed a total income loss of $118,839, but did not claim $295,340 he received from defrauding the victims. The additional income resulted in $76,819 due in taxes. The investigation also showed that Van Auken owed $165,195 in taxes for the years 2013-2015.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS.

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MISSOULA – A California man accused of threatening to inform on a person if he wasn't paid money today admitted blackmail charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Bryan Gregg Waterfield Nash, 56, of Woodside, CA, pleaded guilty to blackmail. Nash faces a maximum one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided and continued Nash's release pending further proceedings.  Sentencing is set for August 7, 2020.

In documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that the blackmail began in December 2013 and ran until about June 2019 in Whitefish and in northern California. Nash knew the victim, identified as John Doe 1, for many years. Beginning in about December 2013, Nash frequently communicated with John Doe 1 in person and electronically and with his family, friends and colleagues.

Many of Nash's communications demanded money from John Doe 1, and he also accused the victim of committing federal crimes. Nash alleged the victim could be investigated by the IRS for tax fraud. In a text message sent in April 2016, Nash told the victim: "This brings all your IRS stuff to the public eye even more. This will be huge news. You were scamming the IRS." During the same time period Nash was accusing the victim of breaking federal law, he repeatedly asked for financial assistance.

When John Doe 1 stopped responding to communications from Nash, Nash intensified communications with the victim's family, friends, employees and privately-retained lawyers. Many of the messages referenced the victim being investigated by the IRS or FBI, and Nash repeatedly asked to meet with the victim's lawyers to "settle" with the victim. Nash's requests to settle with the John Doe 1 were in consideration for not filing a civil complaint against the victim or reporting his alleged criminal transgression to law enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Racicot and Ryan Weldon are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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BILLINGS—A Billings man who admitted illegally having guns after having been convicted of a felony was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Franklin Joseph Takeshorse, 40, pleaded guilty in January to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents in the case that in June 2019, the Billings Police Department received a call of a suspicious person attempting to enter a closed business. The business reported the person went back into his car and passed out. Officers approached the car and saw Takeshorse asleep and a rifle on the back seat. Takeshorse was on probation from a 2007 felony conviction and there was a warrant for his arrest. The rifle was recovered along with a pistol that was in a backpack next to Takeshorse. The rifle was unloaded, while the pistol was loaded.

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—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and the Department of Justice today commemorated Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Awareness Day as proclaimed by President Donald J. Trump.

President Trump today signed a proclamation declaring May 5 as Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Awareness Day. The proclamation affirms the government's commitment to ending violence against these Americans and to honoring those whose lives have been lost.

Attorney General William P. Barr said in a statement, "American Indian and Alaska Native people have suffered injustices for hundreds of years, including today’s rampant domestic and sexual violence carried out primarily against women and girls. Today, President Trump has proclaimed a day to remember all those missing and lost to this unacceptable violence.  Through the Presidential Task Force – co-chaired by Katie Sullivan, who heads our Office of Justice Programs – and in partnership with Tribal Nations, we are all committed to ending this cycle of violence.  To that end, we have brought unprecedented resources to support public safety and victim services, including $270 million in grant funding in fiscal year 2019.  The department is also hiring 11 coordinators to consult with tribes and develop common protocols to address this scourge of violence.  From this day forward, today’s proclamation marks a time for all of us to honor Native Americans who have been lost and rededicate ourselves to what President Trump has called ‘our mission to bring healing, justice, hope, and restoration’ to American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

"We know that violence in tribal communities is too common. Native women and children suffer disproportionally high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault and too often go missing or are murdered. Montana has had several tragic cases," said U.S. Attorney Alme, who is vice chairman of the Department of Justice's Native American Issues Subcommittee. "Today, we remember all those who have been murdered or have disappeared. By all of us working together, I believe we can find solutions and stop this crisis."

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GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder woman who admitted stabbing a man in the upper chest with a butterfly knife on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation last year was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Katie Lynn Big Bow, 44, pleaded guilty in January to assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury.

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

The prosecution said in court records that the assault occurred on May 2, 2019 when Big Bow stabbed the victim with a butterfly knife in the left hand and upper chest at his house in Box Elder. The victim drove himself to the clinic on the reservation. Big Bow and the victim were in a long-term relationship.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement.

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MISSOULA – A former Bureau of Land Management employee today admitted he used government credit cards to steal from the agency, including buying pottery for his personal use, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Adrian Anthony Aragon, 49, of Butte, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Aragon faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. The Court detained Aragon and set sentencing for Aug. 14.

The prosecution said in court records filed in the case that Aragon worked as an administrative assistant for the BLM and had been issued government travel and purchase cards to be used only for official business. An investigation found that in 10 months, Aragon attempted to obtain about $20,901 by improperly using his government cards. On July 28, 2019, Aragon used his card to spend $2,500 to buy pottery for his personal use. To cover the fraudulent purchase, Aragon doctored the account statement to omit the transaction and then submitted the statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Law Enforcement and Security.

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MISSOULA—A Missoula woman who admitted her role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy was sentenced today to 46 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Crystal Marie Buhler, 35, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute meth.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Buhler distributed drugs in the Missoula area from the spring of 2018 through June 2019. Witnesses told law enforcement that Buhler, along with a co-defendant, bought heroin from California with money obtained from the co-defendant's meth distribution. Buhler had heroin shipped to her residence for distribution.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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GREAT FALLS—A Poplar woman who admitted stabbing a man multiple times while in a Wolf Point bar on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 20 months in prison and two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Emily Kaye Marie Gourneau, 32, pleaded guilty in December to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

The prosecution said in court records that the assault occurred on July 23 at the Water Hole 1 bar in Wolf Point. Gourneau and the victim, who was playing pool, had been socializing. At some point, when the victim walked toward Gourneau from the pool table, Gourneau pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times, running around the bar chasing after him. The assault was recorded on a security camera. Gourneau left the bar after the assault.

First responders found the victim lying on the floor and severely wounded and bleeding. The victim underwent surgery for multiple stab wounds at a hospital in North Dakota.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Wolf Point Police Department and the Fort Peck Tribes’ Criminal Investigation.

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MISSOULA—A Missoula woman who admitted to distributing meth on behalf of another person was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Aurora Elizabeth Quinn, 37, pleaded guilty in December to distribution of meth.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that Quinn, acting on behalf of another person, referred to as John Doe, distributed about 12 grams of meth to a confidential source in May 2019. Before the deal, the confidential source had talked to John Doe, who indicated that Quinn would have the drugs. The source called Quinn, the two arranged to meet and the source paid Quinn $500 for a package of meth.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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MISSOULA—A Missoula man who admitted he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Paul Aaron Champion, 52, pleaded guilty in December to felon in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that in September 2017, federal, state and local law enforcement conducted a home visit and probation check at Champion's residence. Champion told his probation officer that he had used methamphetamine recently so his probation officer searched his residence. The officer found a bag containing a .380-caliber pistol and ammunition for the gun. Champion at first denied, then admitted the firearm belonged to him. Champion was convicted of a felony and was serving a suspended sentence at the time.

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 and Montana 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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GREAT FALLS—Three Mexico citizens who admitted trying to smuggle aliens across the border from Canada into Glacier County in Montana last year were sentenced this week to time served, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Samuel Velasco-Tovar, 28, who was a foot guide, and Omero Banderas-Rodriguez, 39, who was a driver, both were sentenced on Wednesday to 158 days of time served. Alberto Guillen-Gordillo, 23, who was intended to be a driver, was sentenced today to 159 days of time served. All three defendants pleaded guilty in February to transportation of illegal aliens.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris referred all defendants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.

“Human smuggling across the Canadian border is dangerous both to those who are being smuggled and to Montanans who may cross paths with the smugglers.  Those who are smuggled and cannot pay the fee may be forced to work to pay it off.  Those who prey on the aspirations of those from other countries wanting a better life for themselves, putting them and Montanans at risk, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

The prosecution said in court records that on Nov. 17 at about 11:15 p.m., Border Patrol agents conducted traffic stops of two vehicles south of the United States-Canada border in Glacier County. In the first vehicle, which was a Chevrolet Suburban, the agent found the driver, Banderas-Rodriguez, and nine passengers. All of the passengers admitted to being in the United States illegally. During the stop of the second vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, all of the occupants ran into a nearby field. Agents found eight individuals within a few minutes. Each of the individuals admitted to being in the United States illegally.

In all, law enforcement transported 19 suspects to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for processing. Four of the transported illegal aliens told agents they had paid from $4,000 to $4,750 to be smuggled into the United States and identified Velasco-Tovar as the foot guide who helped them cross into the United States.

Banderas-Rodriguez rented hotel rooms in Cut Bank prior to this pickup, was one of the contacts prior to the trip to cross the border and was one of the drivers at the pickup. He told law enforcement he would be paid $2,000 for driving an SUV full of aliens from Montana to Utah.

Shortly after the arrests, a Border Patrol agent and Glacier County Sheriff’s deputy went to a Cut Bank hotel where the subjects had been staying to determine if any remaining occupant in one of the hotel rooms was in violation of trafficking laws.

Co-defendant Guillen-Gordillo answered the door, identified himself and was taken into custody. Guillen-Gordillo admitted to being in the United States illegally. He rented the two SUVs from a Utah rental company. A co-defendant identified Guillen-Gordillo as the driver of a third vehicle but that he stayed at the hotel because he was not feeling well.

A fourth co-defendant, Josue Bermudez-Lopez, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegally transporting aliens and was sentenced to four months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paulette Stewart, Jeff Starnes and Ethan Plaut are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.

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BILLINGS—A Laurel man who admitted to selling methamphetamine in the community was sentenced on Wednesday to six years and eight months in prison followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Seth James Todd, 26, pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and to distribution of meth as charged in an indictment.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that in the summer of 2017, drug task force officers worked with a confidential informant to buy meth from a co-conspirator. The co-conspirator, who was convicted in federal court, identified sources of supply in Spokane, where the co-conspirator traveled numerous times and bought about 15 pounds of meth. Fifteen pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 54,360 doses. Individuals from the Billings area traveled with the co-conspirator on those trips to obtain meth for personal use and for resale in the community. Todd made one trip to Spokane with the co-conspirator, who sold a half-pound of meth to Todd. A different confidential informant working with the task force bought meth from Todd.

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

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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BILLINGS—A Pryor man convicted by a jury of beating an elderly man and causing facial injuries was sentenced today to 54 months in prison and three years of  supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

After a two-day trial, a jury on Nov. 13, 2019 found Joseph Nathan Smells, 34, guilty of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

“Our senior citizens deserve our respect, not abuse. Elder abuse is an all too common crime in our communities. We will prosecute those who harm our elders to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Torske, Legal Intern Ryan Warner, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI for investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

In documents filed in the case, the prosecution presented evidence that Smells assaulted the victim, an elderly man, by head-butting and punching him on Feb. 13, 2019. The victim suffered multiple facial injuries that required surgery.

The assault occurred in Pryor, on the Crow Indian Reservation, as the victim was sitting in a vehicle. While dropping off another passenger, the group in the vehicle passed a house. The driver noticed that the door had been kicked in and stopped to investigate. The driver walked toward the house and saw Smells just inside the house and another man. The driver told them both to leave. Smells and the driver argued, and as the driver tried to call police, Smells walked to the vehicle, where the victim was a passenger. Smells spoke briefly to the victim, then jerked open the door and began assaulting him. After the fight, Smells ran away.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Torske and Legal Intern Ryan Warner prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI.

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BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services throughout the week.  This year’s observance takes place April 19-25 and features the theme, “Seek Justice| Ensure Victims' Rights | Inspire Hope.”

“Every year, millions of Americans suffer the shock and trauma of criminal victimization, affecting their well-being and sense of security and dignity,” said Attorney General William P. Barr.  “To these victims, we affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting them in their hour of need.  We also commend the thousands of victim advocates and public safety professionals who labor tirelessly to secure victims’ rights and support survivors.”

“Violent crime in Montana increased 36% since 2013.  Each of those crimes had victims who suffered pain, loss and trauma, sometimes for the rest of their lives.  We all need to work together to ensure that people in our communities stay safe from dangerous criminals.  I want to thank those who came forward, and especially the courageous victims, to report crimes and to ensure the attackers didn’t hurt anyone else.  I also want to commend our federal, state, tribal and local prosecutors, law enforcement and especially our victim specialists who work every day to seek justice for victims and provide them support,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“While we have made tremendous progress driving down crime and violence across the country, far too many Americans continue to suffer the pain and loss of criminal victimization,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs.  “This week, we stand by these survivors and their families, and we pledge our ongoing support to the countless men and women who serve them with such extraordinary skill and compassion.”

Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda.  He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.  President Trump and his administration have implemented historic levels of support for victim assistance and victim compensation.

Some 3.3 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime in 2018, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey.  The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory.  Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures.

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local and tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services.  This year, many communities are organizing virtual gatherings and online public awareness campaigns.

This year’s commemoration began yesterday, 25 years to the day when a truck bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, taking the lives of 168 people, including 19 children, as well as injuring hundreds of others.  The mass murder remains the worst act of domestic terrorism in our nation’s history and led to the establishment of the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which is administered by OVC, and has been used to provide direct services to hundreds of victims of mass violence and terrorism.

“Crime victims deserve to know that they have the encouragement and support of the American people,” said OVC Director Jessica E. Hart.  “I hope that citizens throughout the nation will take the opportunity this week to remember all victims of crime and their heroic stories of survival.  I encourage everyone to also find meaningful ways to express their appreciation to the many committed and compassionate service providers across the country who work tirelessly supporting these survivors.”

This year, the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony will be postponed until a time when we can honor this year’s award recipients in person.  During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims.  The awardees will be selected from public nominations in 11 categories, including federal service, special courage, public policy, and victim services.  Visit www.ovc.gov/gallery to learn more about past recipients.

For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2020/overview.html.

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BILLINGS—A Louisiana man who admitted illegally having a firearm after confessing to shooting a mule deer buck in the Baker area was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and to three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Matthew Stephen Hays, 32, of Rayville, LA, pleaded guilty in November to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that Hays was convicted of felony theft of a firearm in Louisiana in 2014. In January 2019, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks wardens were investigating reports of deer poaching in eastern Montana. While on Sheep Mountain Road, the wardens saw a small pickup truck, heard four shots and saw the truck drive away. The wardens drove to where the truck had stopped and found a mule deer buck thrashing in sage brush about 150 yards from the road. The wardens hiked to the animal and found it dead from several gunshot wounds.

Four days later, one of the wardens saw in a Baker parking lot a truck matching the description of the truck that had been seen on Sheep Mountain Road. There were deer antlers in the back of the pickup and a rifle and several boxes of ammunition in the back seat of the cab. Hays emerged from a nearby store and walked to the truck. He confessed to the warden that he shot mule deer buck with his .22-caliber rifle. During a search of the truck, the warden recovered a .22-caliber rifle and a second firearm. Hay also told the warden he had a prior felony conviction.

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

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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BILLINGS—A Billings man suspected of trafficking methamphetamine for distribution in the community appeared on charges today after law enforcement officers intercepted a package containing about eight pounds of the drug that was sent through the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Trevion Maurice Jones, 44, had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jones faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

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

The charging document is merely an accusation, and Jones is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Court documents filed in the case said drug enforcement officers learned that Jones was a meth supplier and had sources in California and Las Vegas. Jones received some meth through the mail. On April 14, a U.S. Postal inspector located a priority express parcel addressed to Jones’ residence and sent from a California address. The package weighed 24 pounds. A K-9 alerted to the package, which officers opened after getting a search warrant. Inside the parcel was a safe, which contained five vacuum sealed packages that weighed about eight pounds and tested positive for meth. Eight pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 28,992 doses.

Officers replaced some of the meth in the safe, obtained a search warrant for Jones’ residence and made a controlled delivery. The postal inspector knocked on the door, delivered the package to Jones, who answered, and left. Law enforcement officers then served the search warrant at the residence and arrested Jones without incident.

The Drug Enforcement Agency, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and U.S. Postal Service investigated the case.

Pacer case reference. MJ-20-35.

If the above cases is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 9 was:

Keith Charles Harrison, 32, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Harrison faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Harrison was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Great Falls Police Department and Russell Country Drug Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-21.

If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

 

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BILLINGS—A Billings man who admitted he illegally had a firearm after being found passed out in a vehicle was sentenced today to two and one half years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Matthew Robert-Jefferson Miller, 32, pleaded guilty in October to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that in 2009, Matthew Robert-Jefferson Miller was convicted of felony drug charges. On March 8, 2019, a Rosebud County Sheriff’s sergeant received a call for service regarding a vehicle off the road and stuck in the snow near the Rosebud Creek turn off on Highway 10. The officer found the vehicle with Miller passed out behind the wheel. During a pat down search of Miller, the officer found a loaded firearm in his waistband. The officer conducted a DUI investigation and arrested Miller. During an interview, Miller advised he had the firearm for protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten 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—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today urged the public to report potential stockpiling or price gouging of medical supplies needed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Justice is getting reports of persons using the coronavirus crisis to stockpile urgently needed medical supplies to make windfall profits at the expense of public health and safety. Hoarding these items makes it difficult for healthcare providers and first responders to resist the spread of COVID-19.

“Hoarding critically needed medical supplies to get rich quick during a pandemic is not only morally reprehensible, it’s illegal.  Stockpiling supplies and price gouging puts the health and safety of individuals at risk and hampers efforts to stop the spread of this deadly virus. It cannot and won’t be tolerated.” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

A recent Executive Order authorized a Defense Production Act provision that prohibits hoarding of designated items. The Justice Department’s COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force is working with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which designates items, and with the Federal Emergency Management Service, to seize stockpiles of healthcare and medical items where appropriate. Designated supplies include items like masks, ventilators and disinfectants.

This stockpiling prohibition does not apply to regular Americans who are stocking up on daily necessities, businesses needing supplies or manufacturers.

The goal is to locate potential stockpiles of designated materials, quickly confiscate the items and redistribute the supplies where they are needed. Persons caught stockpiling supplies could face prosecution.

Please report COVID-19 hoarding, price gouging and fraud scams to the Department of Justice’s fraud hotline at 866-720-5721 or email disaster@leo.gov.

“I want to assure Montanans that my office and our law enforcement partners are fully engaged and ready to investigate and prosecute these cases.”  U.S. Attorney Alme said.

For more information on the coronavirus, visit Justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

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

Marc Buetow, 52, of San Diego, CA, on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute. If convicted of the most serious crime, Buetow faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Buetow was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 18-89.

Appearing on April 2 was:

Courage Dane DeCrane, 20, of Pryor, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious crime, DeCrane faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to life of supervised release. DeCrane was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-16.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 31 was:

Amanda Jean Holland, 38, of Sunburst, on charges of theft of mail by postal employee and destruction of mail by postal employee. If convicted of the most serious crime, Holland faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-16.

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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MISSOULA—A Missoula man convicted at trial of trafficking methamphetamine and heroin and illegally having firearms was sentenced today to 16 years and three months in prison and 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

A jury in December found Allan Roy Goodman, 43, guilty on all counts, including conspiracy to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth, distribution of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice.

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

The prosecution’s evidence showed that Goodman was a prolific meth and heroin dealer. Goodman sold drugs to a confidential source who was working for the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and two witnesses testified about selling Goodman a pistol for heroin.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on Sept. 12, 2019 on Goodman’s garage and recovered two firearms. Goodman had been convicted of felonies on two prior occasions.

The prosecution also presented evidence showing that in early October 2019, Goodman and another person assaulted a cooperating witness while all were incarcerated in Shelby.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, the Missoula HIDTA Task Force and the Northwest Drug Task Force.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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BILLINGS – The Department of Justice this week announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.

“As we all confront this coronavirus pandemic, our local and tribal partners face unprecedented challenges maintaining public health and safety in our communities. These funds will provide necessary support and resources during this critical time.  I encourage all eligible agencies to apply,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”

The solicitation, posted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will remain open for at least 60 days and be extended as necessary. OJP will fund successful applicants as a top priority on a rolling basis as applications are received. Funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities. Grant funds may be applied retroactively to Jan. 20, 2020, subject to federal supplanting rules.

Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for this emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations.

For more information about the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553. For more information about the Office of Justice Programs, please visit https://www.ojp.gov/.

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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BILLINGS—A Colorado man convicted of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine in the community and of possessing a firearm was sentenced today to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Scott Allen Wortman, 48, of Englewood, CO, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and to two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. A jury convicted Wortman of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said the evidence showed that federal agents identified Wortman in 2016 as a Billings area heroin distributor who traveled to Denver to get heroin and was supplying several other local dealers. In early 2018, law enforcement used a confidential informant to make two controlled buys of heroin from Wortman. Agents executed a search warrant at Wortman’s residence and found a small amount of heroin, two firearms, $4,000 in cash, surveillance equipment and drug paraphernalia. In an interview with agents, Wortman said he made regular trips to Denver to get heroin and that he had distributed more than a kilo of the drug. A kilo is 2.2 pounds. When Wortman was arrested, he had a .38-caliber pistol in his pocket, and agents found about 10 ounces of meth in his vehicle.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI 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 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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GREAT FALLS— A Harlem man who admitted strangling his dating partner on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 23 months in prison and to two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Allesandro Shalamar Foursouls, 27, pleaded guilty in December to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner. 

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said the assault occurred on April 13, 2019 at Foursouls’ grandmother’s home, where he lives. Foursouls and the victim, a dating partner, were drinking alcohol when Foursouls became angry with something she said. Foursouls told the victim, “I’ll kill you bitch,” and put his hands around her neck and squeezed until she lost consciousness. The victim was unable to escape until the next morning. She went to the Indian Health Service emergency room, where she was treated for pain and injuries to her throat. The victim told the medical staff that Foursouls had strangled her a day or two prior to her visit and that he had strangled her previously about a week earlier. The victim continued to experience pain from the assault and was treated again in May at Billings Clinic in Billings.

In August, law enforcement saw Foursouls and the victim together and the victim had a fresh black eye and bruising on her body. The victim told officers that Foursouls had assaulted her again a day or two prior.

Foursouls admitted to the FBI to squeezing the victim’s neck in the April assault.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.

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GREAT FALLS – The former chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe today was sentenced to 10 months in prison and two years of supervised release along with being ordered to pay $174,000 restitution for his role in an overtime pay scheme that stole federal funds from the tribe’s Head Start child assistance program, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Willie Andrew Sharp, 66, of Browning, pleaded guilty in November to wire fraud.

Sharp’s wife, Denise L. Sharp, and three other co-defendants also were convicted in the case.  Denise Sharp, who was Head Start’s personnel manager, was sentenced earlier to nine months in prison.

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

 “The theft of $174,000 hurt the children enrolled in Head Start by prohibiting the purchase of books, barring the ability to obtain teaching materials and cutting food nutrition programs for those who need it most. We will continue to ensure that federal funds are used for the needs of those intended, especially children,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Willie Sharp authorized and approved overtime at the Blackfeet Head Start Program knowing that the overtime claims were false. The falsely claimed overtime pay totaled $174,000 in federal funds for more than 5,800 hours claimed over a 15-month period.

When the fraud was uncovered, two different firms audited the Blackfeet Head Start program. Both audits questioned the overtime claims, identifying them as “beyond necessary and reasonable” and lacking any supporting documentation.

The Blackfeet Tribe did its own internal review, agreed it could not justify the overtime claims and repaid the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $250,620.29 for disallowed costs and other expenses.

In addition to the Sharps, the investigation resulted in the indictment and conviction of Theresa Calf Boss Ribs, Patrick Calf Boss Ribs, Carol Bird and Allen Shane Gross.

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

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

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on a criminal complaint on March 23 was:

Riccardo Ramos Medina, 33, of Mexico, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Medina faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Service and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-3.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on March 24 was:

Arnold Scott Devous, 67, of Billings, on charges of federal medical officer with conflict of interest. If convicted of the most serious crime, Devous faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Devous was released pending further proceedings. The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-18.

Appearing on March 26 was:

James Kenneth Ward, 57, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ward faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ward was detained pending further proceedings. The Environmental Protection Agency investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 17-6.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 24 was:

Stacey Renee Walker, 37, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walker faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Walker was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-21.

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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MISSOULA—A Lolo man who admitted illegally having a gun and ammunition was sentenced today to three years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Francis Carlton Crowley, 34, pleaded guilty in December to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

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

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that in May 2018, soon after moving to Montana from Oregon, Crowley’s sister bought a shotgun from a Missoula pawn shop. On July 7, 2018, Crowley showed up at Lolo Hot Springs, where his sister worked, and began threatening people. He said he had a gun and kept reaching into his pockets. Crowley also said he had crashed his car and his baby son, later determined to be his nephew, was in the woods. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies searched the Lolo National Forest for Crowley and the baby. On July 8, 2018, while searching, officers located Crowley’s campsite and saw spent and live shotgun shells and the shotgun his sister had purchased. The investigation also found photographs showing Crowley in possession of the shotgun.

Crowley had prior felony convictions in Oregon and Washington and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

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

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MISSOULA— A Columbia Falls man who admitted using his Facebook account and mobile phone to seek a sexually explicit image of a minor girl was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Todd Louis Pajnich, 30, pleaded guilty in December to sexual exploitation of a child.

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

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that beginning in January 2019, Pajnich started communicating on Facebook with a 10-year-old girl. In April, Facebook reported potential online sexual exploitation involving the girl’s and Pajnich’s accounts. A law enforcement investigation found records in which Pajnich asked the girl her age and that she told him she was 13. Pajnich then asked the girl to send him a sexually explicit image of herself, which she did. And Pajnich sent the victim a sexually explicit image of a male, purportedly of himself. Pajnich admitted to law enforcement that he knew the victim was a child and that he solicited a sexually explicit image of her.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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

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BILLINGS—A Billings man accused of sex trafficking and drug distribution crimes was arraigned today on charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Mario Juan Drake, 31, pleaded not guilty to six counts in a 25-count indictment charging four defendants. Co-defendants William Maurice Newkirk, Djavon Lamont King and Dejon Anthony Duncan have been arraigned and have pleaded not guilty.

The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Drake pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Drake faces a minimum mandatory 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Drake was detained pending further proceedings.

The indictment alleges that from about 2018 through 2019, Drake became involved in the distribution of illegal narcotics and in commercial sex and sex trafficking of a minor in Billings and other Montana cities.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

Pacer case reference. 20-25.

If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

 

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BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations.

“Human trafficking is a reprehensible crime. Those responsible need to be held accountable and those victimized need help. We hope these funds can be used to accomplish both,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors. 

A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future. 

 

Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17351

Total Available $1.8 million       

Deadline 4/6/2020 (Extended)

 

Multidisciplinary Task Force Program to Combat Human Trafficking

Total Available $22 million 

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Preventing Trafficking of Girls

Total Available $1.7 million

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Research and Evaluation on Trafficking in Persons

https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17324

Total Available $2.5 million

Deadline 4/20/2020                                                   

 

Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

Total Available $16.5 million

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Specialized Training and Technical Assistance on Housing for Victims of Human Trafficking

Total Available $2 million 

Oens week of 3/16/2020

 

Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Program

Total Available $5 million

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Human Trafficking                                                                     

Total Available $6 million  

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Labor Trafficking

Total Available $8 million 

Opens week of 3/16/2020

 

For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities

 

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BIILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced that more than $163 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities address America’s addiction crisis.

“Montana communities are struggling with methamphetamine and related violent crime. Hopefully, these funds can be used to help stop drug dealers and help prevent and treat addiction,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“Our nation is facing the difficult challenge of curbing substance addiction, which threatens public safety and is among the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight to meet this challenge. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”

The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs designed to prevent overdose deaths and break the cycle of addiction and crime. 

A number of funding opportunities that address the addiction crisis are currently open: 

Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17098

Total Available $1.75 million                                    Deadline 5/14/2020   

 

Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/COSSAP20

Total Available $27 million                                       Deadline 5/21/2020

 

Enhancing Community Responses to America's Addiction Crisis: Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims

https://www.ovc.gov/grants/pdftxt/fy-2020-enhancing-community-responses-to-drug-crisis.pdf

Total Available: $19 million                                      Deadline: 5/4/2020

           

Family Drug Court Program

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17090

Total Available $18.2 million                                    Deadline 4/8/2020 (Extended)

 

Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17754

Total Available $28.1                                                 Deadline 5/5/2020

 

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17051

Total Available $7.2 million                                      Deadline 4/13/2020 (Extended)

 

Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-16930

Total Available $48 million                                       Deadline 4/13/2020  

 

Opioid Affected Youth Initiative

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/ojjdp-2020-17352

Total Available $9 million                                         Deadline 4/20/2020

 

Research and Evaluation on Drugs and Crime            https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/nij-2020-17275

Total Available $1 million                                         Deadline 4/20/2020   

 

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners

https://bja.ojp.gov/RSAT20

Total Available $4.5 million                                                                                       Deadline 4/6/2020

 

For more information regarding all OJP funding opportunities, visit https://www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/current-funding-opportunities

 

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HELENA—A Kalispell man who admitted participating in a Helena armed home invasion of a couple involved in trafficking heroin was sentenced today to six and one-half years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Morgan Victor Pitsch, 25, pleaded guilty in October to robbery affecting commerce and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

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

The prosecution said in court records that the FBI learned of a home invasion in Helena in which the victims, a couple, were involved in trafficking heroin. The couple had been given money by co-defendant, Kielan Brett Franklin, to travel to Washington to buy an ounce of heroin. The couple returned with less than an ounce. When the couple did not immediately turn over the heroin, Franklin sent them threatening text messages.

On March 8, 2019, Franklin, Pitsch and co-defendants Arielle Rose Cowser and Gerald Allen Hiler, went to the couple’s residence. Pitsch possessed a pistol during the robbery, while the others searched for drugs, money and other valuables. The robbers fled when they learned that the female victim had secretly dialed 911. They took a small amount of heroin, the female victim’s wedding ring, cell phone and other items.

Hiler pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in prison. Franklin has pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing. A jury convicted Cowser of robbery charges. Cowser is to be sentenced on June 11.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri River Drug Task Force.

 

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BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov.

In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes.

“Sadly, there are people trying to take advantage of others during this time of uncertainty when most Montanans are thinking of ways to help. Please be on guard for potential frauds or scams against you and your neighbors and report any suspicious activity,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

Some examples of these schemes include:

• Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
• Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
• Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
• Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.      

In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities.   The District of Montana’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Kakuk.

The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes.  The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.

To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

 

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MISSOULA—A Missoula man who admitted to distributing methamphetamine in the community for several years was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Bradley Scott Lane, 37, pleaded guilty in December to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said that in October 2018, the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force had an informant buy an ounce of meth from Lane for $800. A DEA lab test determined the product contained a small amount of meth. In an interview with law enforcement, Lane admitted to distributing meth, primarily eight-balls, which is one-eighth of an ounce. In addition other individuals interviewed by law enforcement said they bought meth from Lane from about 2017 to 2019.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thaggard prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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MISSOULA—A Missoula man who posed with guns on a Facebook page was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Brandon Richmond Turner, 29, pleaded guilty in December to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that Turner was convicted of a felony in Lake County in January 2017 and prohibited from possessing firearms. In June 2019, Turner’s state probation officer received information that a Facebook page for a sporting goods company in Hamilton had pictures of Turner posing with firearms. The company’s owner reported that Turner had posed for the photographs but that no one at the company knew Turner had a felony conviction. Turner admitted to his probation officer that he had retrieved his own AR-style rifle and a pistol from a friend, who had agreed to keep his guns when he got convicted. The AR rifle appeared to be the same gun Turner held in one of the photos on the Facebook page.

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

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

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

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on March 16 was:

Nicholas James Imhoff, 19, of Cape Coral, FL, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Imhoff faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Imhoff was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case.  Pacer case reference. 20-24.

Appearing on March 17 was:

Mitchell Zane Littlelight, 24, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Littlelight faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Littlelight was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-19.

Christopher Darius Larsen, 38, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Larsen faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Larsen was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-21.

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

Frank Joseph Lira, 56, of Cut Bank, on charges of conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lira faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lira was detained pending further proceedings. The Cut Bank Police Department, FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pacer case reference. 20-24.

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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GREAT FALLS—A Great Falls father and son who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the community and to illegally possessing firearms were sentenced today to prison terms, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Gary Girard Sheehan, 68, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison and five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Justin Leonard Sheehan, 44, the son of Gary Sheehan, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months in prison and five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

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

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said law enforcement received information that the Sheehans had been distributing meth in the Great Falls community since at least 2016. The father and son would routinely travel to Salt Lake City to pick up large quantities of meth from a supplier for redistribution in Great Falls.

In November 2018, law enforcement received information that the Sheehans were planning a trip to Salt Lake City to buy meth and officers monitored the trip. On Nov. 19, 2018, agents stopped Gary Sheehan’s vehicle on Interstate 15 south of Butte. Gary Sheehan was the driver and Justin Sheehan was in the rear passenger seat. In a search of the vehicle, agents found in the trunk a backpack with two bundles of meth, $9,050 cash and a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Each bundle had about a pound of meth. A second backpack found in the backseat of the car contained a loaded .22-caliber handgun and a plastic bag with white residue. A pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,634 doses.

Gary Sheehan was prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction in Utah. Agents interviewed individuals who acknowledged getting meth from Justin Sheehan and that he typically carried firearms for his protection in the drug trade.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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GREAT FALLS—A Fort Belknap Agency man who admitted to being an habitual domestic abuse offender after beating his partner was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison and two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Zachary Shawn Kendall, 27, pleaded guilty in November to domestic abuse by habitual offender.

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

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that Kendall assaulted his intimate and dating partner in March 2019 on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Kendall had a prior domestic violence conviction involving the same victim from an assault in January 2019 and a previous domestic violence conviction involving a different victim in 2012.

On March 31, 2019, tribal officers were dispatched to the couple’s residence, where Kendall was fighting with another man, whom he accused of having a relationship with the victim. Kendall also struck the victim multiple times in the face and body with his fists.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.

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BILLINGS—A Billings man accused of crimes in an investigation into sex trafficking was arraigned today on drug distribution and firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Dejon Anthony Duncan, 21, pleaded not guilty to four counts in a 25-count indictment charging multiple defendants. The four counts include distribution of ecstasy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Duncan faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.

The indictment is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Duncan was detained pending further proceedings.

Co-defendants William Maurice Newkirk, 39, and Djavon Lamont King, 29, both of Billings, have pleaded not guilty to multiple sex trafficking and drug counts. Newkirk also pleaded not guilty to firearms counts.

The FBI investigated the case.

Pacer case reference. 20-25.

If the above case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man accused of shooting a woman in the head during an evening of drinking today admitted assault charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jolson Hubert Bearcomesout, 39, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Bearcomesout faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and will recommend that U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters accept Bearcomesout’s plea. Watters is presiding in the case. A sentencing date will be set. Bearcomesout was detained.

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said the evidence would show that on June 1, 2019, Bearcomesout, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, and others were at Bearcomesout’s house and drinking.

By evening, the group was in Bearcomesout’s bedroom, where they drank and danced. At one point, Bearcomesout sat in a chair and Jane Doe sat between his legs with her head in his lap. Bearcomesout took a firearm, a 9mm pistol that was on the bed, pointed it at Jane Doe’s head and pulled the trigger.  A bullet entered Jane Doe’s neck and exited through the backside of her left shoulder.

Bearcomesout took the pistol and an AR-15 and fled. He was arrested in Forsyth. In an interview with law enforcement, Bearcomesout said he did not know there was a bullet in the chamber and that he was “just fooling around.”

Jane Doe was taken to the Indian Health Service in Lame Deer and ultimately transported to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, where she was treated for multiple injuries and complications.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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BILLINGS—Two Billings men accused of crimes stemming from an investigation into sex trafficking, drug distribution and firearms violations were arraigned this week on charges in a multi-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

William Maurice Newkirk, 39, pleaded not guilty today to 15 counts, while co-defendant Djavon Lamont King, 29, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to six counts.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Newkirk and King are detained pending further proceedings.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Newkirk and King face a mandatory minimum 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

The indictment charges Newkirk with 15 counts, including four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking of a minor and by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of a minor, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of cocaine to person under the age of 21, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

The indictment charges King with six counts, including two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine to a person under the age of 21.

The indictment alleges that from about 2018 through 2019, the defendants became involved in commercial sex in Billings and the distribution of illegal narcotics. The indictment also alleges that Newkirk illegally possessed firearms during this time.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

Pacer case reference.  20-25.

If the above case are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor its progress through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris and pleading not guilty on March 11 was:

Roderick Kale Ledford, 38, of Great Falls, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ledford faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ledford was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-23.

Appearing on March 10 and pleading not guilty was:

Don Fred Baldwin, 47, of Merced, CA, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth, use of communications facility in causing and facilitating the commission of felonies. If convicted of the most serious crime, Baldwin faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Baldwin was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Merced Police Department and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-05.

Appearing on March 9 and pleading not guilty was:

Jennifer Lee Marie Walkingeagle, 29, of Wolf Point, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. If convicted of the most serious crime, Walkingeagle faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Walkingeagle was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-15.

Charles Clark, 26, of Wolf Point, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Clark faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Clark was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 20-20.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on March 12 and pleading not guilty was:

Destiny Lachelle Nilsen, 26, of Billings, on charges of transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nilsen faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Nilsen was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-152.

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

 

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MISSOULA—A Utah man convicted at trial of trafficking methamphetamine in the Kalispell area was sentenced on Thursday to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

A jury in November found Jeremy David Medbery, 34, of Odgen, Utah, guilty of possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided.

The prosecution presented evidence at the trial that in January 2016, law enforcement agents in the Kalispell area began getting tips about two men, Medbery and co-defendant Christopher George Nomura, who had arrived from California to distribute meth.

 In February 2016, an informant made a controlled purchase of meth from Medbery at a casino in Kalispell. After the transaction, police officers followed Medbery, made a traffic stop on Highway 93 and arrested him. Agents executed search warrants on Medbery’s truck and residence. In the truck was a plastic bag with meth residue. A safe in Medbery’s bedroom contained a plastic bag with meth and another bag with residue.

Medbery admitted to officers he drove from California with co-defendant, Christopher Nomura, and brought meth for his personal use. Several days later, Nomura was arrested. Nomura was convicted in the case and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the North Western Drug Task Force, Kalispell Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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MISSOULA—A Polson woman who admitted distributing methamphetamine in 2019 was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Brook Nicole Deneault, 27, pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth.

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

The prosecution said evidence would show that in June 2019, the Polson Police Department made a traffic stop of a vehicle Deneault was driving. In a search of the vehicle, officers found meth, currency, a drug ledger and paraphernalia. A few days later, the Ronan Police Department made a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Deneault was a passenger. In a search of that vehicle, officers found meth in Deneault’s personal possessions. Deneault admitted that the drugs found in the vehicle were hers and that she distributed meth between April and July of 2019.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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