District of Montana

GREAT FALLS—A Browning woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter for hitting and killing a pedestrian while driving 90 mph on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3,500 restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

After a three-day trial in March, a jury convicted Shayanna Marie England, 21, of involuntary manslaughter.

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

The prosecution presented evidence at trial that England had been drinking and driving throughout the night of Jan. 15, 2018 when she veered into the oncoming southbound lane on BIA Route 1, near the post office, and turned back, striking the victim. The victim, who had been with England and others earlier in the night, had been standing in the northbound land near an intersection.  The victim was carried on top England’s vehicle as it left the roadway and crashed into a ditch. The victim was transported to the Indian Health Services Clinic in Browning where he died from injuries.

An investigation determined that England’s vehicle was traveling at approximately 90 mph on a road with a posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Montana Highway Patrol.

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

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Oct. 3 was:

Susan Kaytlin Scott, 52, of Shelby, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and transfer of a handgun to a juvenile. If convicted of the serious crime, Scott faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Scott was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Toole County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-69.

Dylan Jace Arrow Top Knot, 19, of Browning, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Arrow Top Knot faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Arrow Top Knot was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-67.

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

Bradley Scott Lane, 37, of Missoula, on charges of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lane faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Lane was released pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and Missoula Police Department investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-39.

Adrian Hernandez Altamirano, aka Candelario Hernandez Altamirano, 42, of Mexico, on charges of illegal re-entry. If convicted of the most serious crime, Altamirano faces a maximum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Altamirano was detained pending further proceedings. The Bozeman Police Department and Department of Homeland Security investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-22.

Gerald Allen Hiler, 47, of Helena, and Morgan Victor Pitsch, 25, of Helena, on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting commerce, robbery affecting commerce and brandishing firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hiler and Pitsch face a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Hiler and Pitsch were detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and the Missouri River Drug Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-6.

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 man who admitted receiving child pornography on his computer was sentenced today to five years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Lothar Konrad Krauth, 81, pleaded guilty in April to receipt of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris also ordered $9,000 restitution.

The prosecution said in court records that agents from the Great Falls Homeland Security Investigations team received a CyberTipline report in October 2018 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. NCMEC reported that the user of an internet provider address in Great Falls had uploaded an image of a nude prepubescent boy. An investigation found the address belonged to Krauth. HSI and Great Falls police executed a search warrant at Krauth’s residence on Oct. 26, 2018 and seized about 20 items of electronic media, including a desktop computer, external hard drives, thumb drives and more. A search of the electronic media found thousands of images of child porn, including images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bartleson and Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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GREAT FALLS—A woman who admitted possessing heroin for distribution as part of a Great Falls methamphetamine and heroin distribution ring was sentenced today to 11 years and four months in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jacqueline Marie Kirkaldie, 32, of Great Falls, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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

An investigation into a meth and heroin ring in Great Falls began in September 2018 by the Russell Country Drug Task force and Drug Enforcement Administration, the prosecution said in court records.

Investigators became aware that Kirkaldie redistributed meth and heroin for the group, which included co-defendants Anthony Beltran and David Awberry. Beltran has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. Awberry has pleaded guilty and awaiting sentencing. Kirkaldie possessed with intent to distribute meth and heroin from September 2018 until April.

Prosecutors allege that Beltran had a California source for drugs and that he used numerous individuals, including Kirkaldie, to redistribute the drugs in Great Falls.  A witness told law enforcement that he or she bought heroin from Kirkaldie and had seen her in possession with distributable amounts of heroin and meth. When arrested at a casino in on Jan. 5, Kirkaldie had two baggies of heroin. Another individual told law enforcement of receiving heroin from Kirkaldie. In April 2019, law enforcement seized 2,191 grams, or about 4.8 pounds, of actual methamphetamine from a home where the group stored their drugs.  The amount of meth seized from the home is the equivalent of about 17,395 doses.

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

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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BILLINGS—The former project manager of an oil processing plant that exploded in Wibaux in 2012, injuring three employees and extensively damaging the facility, was sentenced today to two years of probation and fined $5,000, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Mark Hurst, 44, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, pleaded guilty on Feb. 27 to Clean Air Act-negligent endangerment.

On Sept. 27, a jury in Billings convicted co-defendant Peter Margiotta, 62, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, of all three counts related to the plant explosion. The jury found Margiotta guilty of conspiracy, Clean Air Act-general duty and Clean Air Act-knowing endangerment. Margiotta was president and director of Custom Carbon Processing, Inc., a Wyoming company that constructed the Michels Disposal Well and Oil Processing facility in Wibaux in 2012. Hurst testified against Margiotta at trial.

 “As project manager, the defendant was aware of the danger to the employees and the public at the facility, notified management, and yet the plant continued to operate.  Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions. Compliance with environmental regulations is required and violators will be prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.  “I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric E. Nelson, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General for their work in prosecuting and investigating this case.”

 “We believe today’s sentencing sends a strong message to those responsible for properly handling hazardous material,” said Jeffrey Dubsick, Regional Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to protect against those who would risk the safety of the public and the environment for personal gain.”

 “By knowingly operating an oil processing facility without appropriate safeguards, the defendant endangered workers and the public,” said Jeff Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement program.  “Today’s sentencing reflects the egregious nature of the defendant’s actions.”

At Margiotta’s trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Custom Carbon constructed the plant in ways that allowed hydrocarbon vapors, extremely hazardous substances and hazardous air pollutants to be released into the air. The plant opened on July 4, 2012 before appropriate electrical wiring, ventilation and other safety measures were installed.

The prosecution in court documents presented evidence that Hurst, who was the project manager, was aware of the ventilation and electrical problems. In a July 4, 2012 email from Hurst to Margiotta, Hurst noted the risks posed at the plant because of its design and construction. Referring to the electrical panels, Hurst wrote, “We also run the risk of killing someone, not only our operators but also customers.”

In a November 2012 email Hurst sent to Custom Carbon management, he again noted “outstanding deficiencies” at the Wibaux plant, including issues with venting, and wrote, “I wanted all things venting into the building to be vented out the building.” Hurst continued to work at the plant as its project manager and the plant remained open.

On Dec. 29, 2012, the plant accepted a delivery of highly volatile and flammable natural gas condensate or “drip gas.” During the offloading of the material at the plant, hazardous and flammable vapors from the natural gas condensate filled the plant building and spread out the open bay doors where the truck delivering the condensate was located. The vapors reached an ignition source, causing an explosion that injured three employees and extensive damage to the plant, the truck and trailer involved in the delivery.

AUSA Bryan Dake and SAUSA Eric Nelson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General.

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BILLINGS—A Billings woman who admitted trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found meth, drug making materials and $10,000 in silver coins in a residence she shared with her father was sentenced today to five years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Brittany Nicole Green, 40, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth.

Green’s father, Gregory Paul Green, 64, was sentenced in August to three years in prison. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided at both sentencings.

Prosecutors said in court records that law enforcement became aware of Gregory Green in December 2018 after a package that was addressed to Green was intercepted in Port Huron, MI. The package was labeled “Organic Fitness Vitamin” and opened by law enforcement. The package contained 1,471 Xanax pills. Investigators determined that 112 packages from various locations, including Canada, had been shipped to Green’s residence since December 2017.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Green’s house after the package was accepted by a person at the residence. Officers found meth, drugs and drug paraphernalia. In Green’s room was a computer displaying the “dark web” and a screen showing where the Greens were selling Xanax across the country. Agents also found meth totaling about 229 grams, or 8 ounces, along with packages and extensive packaging material, including hundreds of feet of glass tubing, glass beakers, a 100 pound butane tank and recipes for combining drugs. In addition, agents seized about $10,000 in silver coins.

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

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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GREAT FALLS—A judge today sentenced a Browning man who admitted to strangling and assaulting a dating partner in two separate attacks on the Blackfeet Reservation to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Ralph Kelly Gallineaux, Sr., 42, pleaded guilty in June to strangulation of a dating partner and to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris also ordered $6,817 restitution for the victim’s burned truck.

The prosecution said in court records that Gallineaux strangled the victim, a dating partner, on April 8 after the two had purchased alcohol and had driven to Durham to drink. On the drive back to Browning the two started arguing. During a three-hour period at Gallineaux’s residence, he assaulted, strangled and attempted to smother the victim. The victim told investigators she thought she was going to die and that Gallineaux told her he was not scared of killing someone. When the assault ended, Gallineaux told the victim to leave his house while holding a lit blow-torch. Gallineaux let the blow-torch go out and threw it outside. Law enforcement recovered the blow-torch in the victim’s truck, which he burned.

The victim ran to the hospital and reported the assault. The victim had bruises and scratches on her back, bruising on her neck and injuries to her ears.

The victim also reported to law enforcement that Gallineaux had assaulted her previously in July 2018, when he punched her multiple times in the face and broke her nose. The victim had called 911 and went to the IHS Hospital in Browning.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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BILLINGS—A Billings man who admitted supplying meth to others for distribution and to having firearms was sentenced today to 15 years and one month in prison and to five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Chad Allen Beres, 32, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possessing with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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

The prosecution said in court records filed in the case that Billings Police officers arrested co-defendant Christopher Hurst at a hotel on Feb. 27, 2018. During a search of the room, officers found meth and a firearm. Hurst admitted receiving from four to eight ounces of meth nearly every day from his suppliers and that he had received at least 15 pounds of meth that he distributed.

Agents identified Beres as a supplier of Hurst’s and also learned that co-defendant Larry Barnett also got meth from Beres. Agents served a search warrant on Beres’ residence and seized about 700 grams of meth, which is about 1.5 pounds and the equivalent of about 5,600 doses. Agents also seized three shotguns and two handguns.

Hurst and Barnett were both convicted in the case. Hurst was sentenced to 12 years in prison while Barnett was sentenced to seven years in prison.

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

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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GREAT FALLS— U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme today announced the settlement of a civil lawsuit and recovery of $137,500 in an oil and gas royalty dispute involving federal leases.

The settlement arises from allegations that Charles Janksy, and his two companies, Somont Oil Company and Ferdig Oil Company, violated the federal False Claims Act by failing to pay money owed to the Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) for natural gas produced from federal leases located in Montana.

Jansky owns or is the controlling shareholder in both Somont and Ferdig.  Somont holds a number of federal gas leases.  The leases obligate Somont to pay the United States royalties on the value of the gas it produces. Each month, companies with federal leases are required to report to ONRR the amount of royalties due and then pay the amount owed.

The settlement resolves claims by the United States that Jansky and Somont failed to properly pay their full royalty obligation for gas produced from Somont’s federal leases in Montana from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016.  The United States alleged that Somont and Jansky improperly treated their dealings with Ferdig as arms-length transactions, when in fact, Somont and Ferdig share common ownership.  The United States alleged this caused Somont to knowingly underreport its royalty obligations.

“Companies that extract resources from federal lands must pay what they owe. We will hold accountable any company that tries to avoid its obligations,” said U.S. Attorney Alme.  

“The obligation to properly pay federal mineral royalties is essential to the responsible development of oil and gas from public lands, and we are committed to work with our partners at the Department of Justice, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, and the Office of the Solicitor, to ensure that companies operating federal leases meet their legal responsibilities,” said Ron Gonzales, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Interior-Office of Inspector General’s Energy Investigations Unit.

The U. S. Attorney’s Office acknowledges the cooperation and teamwork demonstrated by governmental entities involved in today’s recovery. Special thanks are extended to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor, and the Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan L. Dishong represented the United States.

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BILLINGS—The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell has been appointed as the office’s representative on the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force.

The task force met today at the DoubleTree hotel in Billings. The task force was created by the Looping in Native Communities Act or LINC Act, which was passed by the 2019 Montana Legislature.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox appointed Cobell based on a recommendation from the task force after it received a request from U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. Cobell is a prosecutor in the Great Falls office and serves as the tribal liaison coordinator.

“We are pleased to be included on this new task force and know AUSA Cobell will represent us well. We support the state’s effort to better determine the scope of and help find missing Indigenous persons, and we look forward to working with the task force on this important issue that affects the entire state,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

In June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Montana Department of Justice, FBI and BIA co-sponsored a training for the public and law enforcement on how to use missing persons databases and alerts, what families can do when a loved one goes missing and related topics. A second training will be held on Oct. 16 in Billings at the First Interstate Bank Operation’s Center.

Later this year, the office is facilitating training to tribal governments and members on how to enter and review information in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUS, which is an online database available to the public and law enforcement.

The U.S. Department of Justice, BIA and Mt Department of Justice have provided or are working to provide all tribal and BIA law enforcement access to the state Criminal Justice Information Network and the National Crime Information Center Missing Person’s File.

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MISSOULA—Two men convicted of methamphetamine trafficking charges were sentenced to prison today after an investigation in which law enforcement seized almost five pounds of meth from a vehicle, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Victor Manuel Ortega-Yescas, 51, of Bozeman, was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by referral to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. Ortega-Yescas pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute meth.

Co-defendant Carmelo Enrique Ruiz-Morales, 45, of Bozeman, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by referral to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. Ruiz-Morales pleaded guilty in June to distribution of meth.

The prosecution said in court documents that the defendants were identified as sources for meth in Bozeman. A confidential informant working with the Missouri River Drug Task Force made three controlled buys of two ounces each time from Ruiz-Morales in late 2018. Investigators then set up a controlled buy with Ruiz-Morales, and the informant bought one pound of meth for $7,500. One pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,624 doses.

Law enforcement began investigating Ortega-Yescas as a potential source after observing Ruiz-Morales meeting with him.  A search warrant served on Ruiz-Morales’ phone showed a large number of text messages between the two men that indicated Ortega-Yescas supplied meth to Ruiz-Morales. Investigators learned that Ortega-Yescas would take 15-hour drives to Lynwood, CA, spend a few hours there and return to Montana. On Feb. 8, Ortega-Yescas drove to Lynwood, arrived the next day and reentered Montana on Feb. 10. Officers pulled him over in Big Sky and executed a search warrant on his Ford Expedition. Officers found a large quantity of meth, which was found to be 2,146 grams, or 4.7 pounds, of 99 percent pure meth. That amount of meth is the equivalent of about 17,032 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missouri River Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol.

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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BILLINGS – After a five day trial, a jury today convicted the former president and director of Custom Carbon Processing, Inc. of multiple violations of the federal Clean Air Act after a 2012 explosion at the company’s oil processing plant in Wibaux injured three employees and caused extensive damage to the plant, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The jury found Peter Margiotta, 62, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, guilty of all three counts in an indictment, including conspiracy, Clean Air Act—general duty and Clean Air Act-knowing endangerment. Margiotta faces a maximum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine for an individual, a $1 million fine for an organization and three years of supervised release on the knowing endangerment crime.

The jury trial began on Sept. 23.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters did not immediately set a sentencing date and continued Margiotta’s release.

“Cutting corners in the construction and operation of the oil processing plant violated the Clean Air Act, compromised the safety of employees and resulted in an explosion that injured three workers. Mr. Margiotta’s conviction should send the message that compliance with environmental regulations is required and that we will prosecute violators,” U.S. Attorney Alme said. “I also want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric E. Nelson, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General for their work in prosecuting and investigating this case.”

“We believe today’s conviction sends a strong message to those responsible for properly handling hazardous material,” said Jeffrey Dubsick, Regional Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will continue our vigorous efforts to protect against those who would risk the safety of the public and the environment for personal gain.”

"The defendant ignored warnings and knowingly put his employees and the public at risk by constructing and operating his facility without appropriate safeguards," said Jeff Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency's criminal enforcement program. "This case highlights the importance of a risk management program that protects public health and the safety of our communities," Martinez said.

The prosecution presented evidence at trial of the following:

Margiotta was president and director of Custom Carbon Processing, Inc., a Wyoming company, which constructed the Michels Disposal Well and Oil Reclamation Facility in Wibaux in 2012. The construction was done in ways that allowed hydrocarbon vapors, extremely hazardous substances and hazardous air pollutants to be released into the air.

 On July 4, 2012, Margiotta directed the opening of the plant before the implementation of appropriate electrical wiring, ventilation and other safety measures. On that date, the project manager emailed Margiotta, “The control panels must be moved asap with the explosion proof wiring. We also run the risk of killing someone, not only our operators but also customers.”

Margiotta also directed employees to accept shipments of highly volatile and flammable “natural gas condensate” or “drip gas” into the operations in a purported effort to help thin and process the slop oil at the plant.

Beginning in October 2012, Margiotta disregarded repeated warnings from the plant’s foreman that the natural gas condensate was not effective in thinning the slop oil and instead was creating a dangerous situation because of its highly volatile and flammable nature. 

On Dec. 29, 2012, the plant accepted a delivery of natural gas condensate. During the offloading of the material at the plant, hazardous and flammable vapors from the natural gas condensate filled the plant building and spread out the open bay doors where the truck delivering the condensate was located. The vapors reached an ignition source, causing an explosion that injured three employees and extensive damage to the plant, the truck and trailer involved in the delivery.

AUSA Bryan Dake and SAUSA Eric Nelson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation 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 Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 25 was:

Lloyd Wallace Youpee, 92, of Poplar, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious crime, Youpee faces a minimum mandatory 30 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. The FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-70.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on a criminal complaint on Sept. 25 was:

Max Richard Arthur, 43, of Anaconda, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Arthur faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Arthur was detained pending further proceedings. The Anaconda Deer Lodge County Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.  Pacer case reference. 19-03.

Appearing on Sept. 24 and pleading not guilty was:

Brandon Richmond Turner, 29, of Missoula, on charges of felon in possession of firearms. If convicted of the most serious crime, Turner faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Turner was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-36.

Appearing on Sept. 24 on a criminal complaint was:

Adrian Hernandez Altamirano, 42, of Mexico, on charges of illegal reentry. If convicted of the most serious crime, Altamirano faces a maximum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Altamirano was detained pending further proceedings. The Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-07.

Appearing on Sept. 23 and pleading not guilty was:

Carly Deann Halcro, 35, of Columbia Falls, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Halcro faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Halcro was released pending further proceedings. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-15.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on Sept. 26 and pleading not guilty was:

Joshua A. Stops, 35, of Lodge Grass, on charges of assault by strangulation and suffocation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Stops faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Stops was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI investigated the case.  Pacer case reference. 19-120.

Matthew Stephen Hays, 31, of Baker, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hays faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hays was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-67.

Donald Raymond Foote, Jr., 49, of Cody, Wyo., on charges of stalking and interstate violation of a protective order. If convicted of the most serious crime, Foote faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Foote was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-95.

Appearing on Sept. 24 was:

Dominique Sebastian Paris, 32, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth, distribution of meth and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Paris faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Paris was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI-West task force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-119.

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 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—An investigation into Bozeman area pill overdoses in 2017 resulted in the sentencing today of three men convicted of drug trafficking and other charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Dylan Joseph Jardin, 21, of Bozeman, was sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $10,925 restitution and to forfeit $4,012. Jardin pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and carfentanil.

Rady Charles Waters, 22, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Waters pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Artemus Lavelle Brock, also known as “Al Beezy”, 30, was sentenced to three years of probation. Brock pleaded guilty in June to possession of cocaine, a misdemeanor.

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

Prosecutors said in court documents that investigators uncovered a drug distribution ring that led to Jardin and the co-defendants after law enforcement in Gallatin County responded to a series of drug overdoses in September 2017.

Five persons who overdosed were revived after being given Narcan, which is an emergency treatment to restore breathing in cases of opiate and narcotic analgesic overdoses.

In interviews with law enforcement, Jardin admitted to distributing oxycodone pills and that he was aware of some of the overdoses. Jardin moved to Montana in 2015 and began selling cocaine, Xanax, meth, marijuana, oxycodone and other drugs. He obtained some of the pills through the dark web and had other sources who typically mailed drugs to him at various addresses in Bozeman. Jardin said he bought meth from sources in Las Vegas and sold drugs, including cocaine, to co-defendants Brent McCarthy, Waters and Brock.

Waters, prosecutors said, told law enforcement that he bought and received drugs from Jardin and acknowledged he had been selling cocaine.

McCarthy was convicted in the case and is pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Betley and Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

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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HELENA – Attorney General Tim Fox and U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced their offices, together with the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, will co-sponsor a second missing persons training for the public and law enforcement.  The event will take place at the First Interstate Bank Operations Center in Billings on October 16.

The first joint missing persons training was held in June in Helena.  “Because we had strong interest in our first collaborative training, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme and I decided we wanted to offer a more convenient opportunity for law enforcement and the public on the eastern side of the state to attend,” Attorney General Tim Fox said.  “Toward that end, we look forward to offering this second training to improve Montana’s response to missing persons cases, particularly those involving Native Americans.”  

The event will provide instruction for law enforcement on accepting and entering a missing person’s report, use of missing persons alerts and advisories, and conducting missing persons investigations.  A separate session for the public will offer information on how to report a missing person, give an overview of missing persons databases and alert systems, and discuss other resources that are available.  

“We are pleased to be working again with Attorney General Fox, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide this important joint training on missing persons resources for all federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement in Montana and for tribal councils and members of the public,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. “By working with law enforcement and family and friends to better collect and share information about missing persons, particularly Native Americans, we can help bring more people home.”

MISSOULA--The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a Kalispell man and two persons from California appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on criminal complaints charging them with methamphetamine trafficking crimes.

John Patrick Figueroa Araujo, 53, of Kalispell, Kristal Patricia Leonard, 34, of Huntington Beach, CA, and John Murray Barry, 39, of Palmdale, CA, are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and with possession with intent to distribute. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings.

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

Court documents filed in the case said investigators arrested the defendants on Sept. 18 as they were driving separately and that search warrants executed on their vehicles revealed approximately 31.5 pounds of methamphetamine, which is the equivalent of about 114,156 doses.

The case was investigated by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Polson Police Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Police Department, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Kalispell Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol and Two Bear Air. Pacer case reference. 19-61.

If this case is of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of it 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 Sept. 16 was:

Lisa Marie Skunkcap, 36, of Browning, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Skunkcap faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Skunkcap was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-60.

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

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

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MISSOULA—Belgrade resident John Michael Whitehead, who admitted child pornography crimes after sending an undercover agent images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release and $3,000 restitution to one of the victims, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Whitehead, 36, pleaded guilty in March to distribution of child porn and receipt of child porn.

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

“Child pornography crimes will not be tolerated in Montana and those who seek to harm children for sexual gratification will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Every person who distributes or receives child pornography re-injures the victims,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

“I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, who prosecuted the case, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and Washington D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. I also want to thank our Montana law enforcement partners, including the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Office, Helena Police Department and Montana Department of Child and Family Services,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

"When crimes against children fall under the authority of the FBI, we will act swiftly to protect society's most vulnerable and investigate those who exploit them," said Paul Haertel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office.  “The FBI is appreciative of our law enforcement partners’ expeditious assistance and cooperation in ensuring the safety and welfare of Montana’s children.”

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that in December 2018, an undercover agent with the FBI’s Task Force in Washington, D.C., was chatting online with Whitehead in a group known to exchange child porn. During the chat, Whitehead sent the agent an image of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In January, Whitehead again sent the agent a video of a prepubescent child engaged in sexually explicit conduct with an adult male.

The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant of Whitehead’s residence on Jan. 9, 2019. Agents seized multiple items, including two smart phones. Whitehead admitted in an interview with agents that he had been using an app on his phone to trade child porn. Investigators found videos and images of child porn on the two phones.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Washington D.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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HELENA—A man and woman who admitted to meth trafficking and firearms crimes were sentenced today to prison after their vehicle was stopped near Missoula and law enforcement found more than a pound of meth inside, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Tavia Dion Blume, 40, of Monroe, WA, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release.

Co-defendant Kyle Douglas Alverson, 25, of Lake Stevens, WA, was sentenced to 14 years and 11 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Both Blume and Alverson pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to distribute meth and to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell presided.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Blume and Alverson conspired with others to distribute meth and also possessed firearms for protection. The Montana Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle Blume was driving on Dec. 16. 2018 on Interstate 90 east of Missoula. Alverson was a passenger. Law enforcement seized the vehicle and served a search warrant on the vehicle. During the search, officers found three firearms and ammunition, seized about 692 grams, or about 1.5 pounds, of meth, $1,280 in U.S. currency and other items. One and a half pounds of meth is the equivalent of 5,436 doses.

 When interviewed by law enforcement, Blume said she had started selling narcotics to pay off debts and admitted to having a gambling problem. Blume would buy meth and heroin from her source in Washington for resale in Montana. When arrested, Blume was on her fourth trip.

Alverson bought meth to resell from Blume and her source of supply. Together, Blume and Alverson decided he would get a Glock .380 caliber pistol, which was found in the vehicle. Blume admitted that she owned a Phoenix Arms .22LR caliber pistol and a Taurus 9mm pistol and had the firearms for protection from being robbed while dealing drugs. The two firearms also were found in the vehicle.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

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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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 on Sept. 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on a criminal complaint was:

Allan Roy Goodman, 42, of Missoula, on charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Goodman faces minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison and five years of supervised release. Goodman was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.  Pacer case reference. 19-59.

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

Sean Henry White Bremner, 24, of Browning, on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bremner faces a maximum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Bremner was release pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-65.

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

 Logan Michael Burke, also known as Logan Old Chief, on charges of assault of dating partner by suffocation and assault of dating partner by strangulation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Burke faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Burke was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services. Pacer case reference. 19-66.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on Sept. 13 and pleading not guilty was:

Chase Woodenlegs, 29, of Busby, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a weapon and strangulation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Woodenlegs faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Woodenlegs was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI.  Pacer case reference. 19-114.

Gregg Allen Johnson, 41, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most crimes, Johnson faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the drug count and a minimum mandatory 10 years to life, consecutive to any other sentence, on one of the firearms counts. Johnson was detain3ed pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pacer case reference. 19-108.

Rane Sawyer Black, 21, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Black faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Black was released pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pacer case reference. 19-96.

Appearing on Sept. 10 and pleading not guilty was:

Eric Shane Ennis, 40, of Shepherd, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ennis faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pacer case reference. 19-106.

Jose Antonio Escobedo, 46, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Escobedo faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Escobedo was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Pacer case reference. 19-113.

Cesar Hernandez-Rodriguez, 35, of Mexico, on charges of illegal re-entry. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hernandez-Rodriguez faces a maximum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Border Patrol. Pacer case reference. 19-115.

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—Missoula resident Tiffany Rose Ramirez, who admitted to methamphetamine trafficking charges, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Ramirez, 31, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

The prosecution said in court documents that on March 17, 2018 in Lake County, Ramirez was driving a vehicle that was pulled over and later searched pursuant to a search warrant. The search led to the recovery of methamphetamine. Two confidential informants told law enforcement that they obtained meth from Ramirez.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Northwest Drug Task Force.

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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Great Falls – A man accused of causing the death of one person and of injuring another while driving in Glacier National Park in June was charged in U.S. District Court today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Leo James Hagan, 19, of East Glacier Park Village, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

The indictment is merely an accusation, and Hagan is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

If convicted, Hagan faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the manslaughter count, and a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault count.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Hagan was released pending further proceedings. A trial was set for Nov. 4, 2019.

The indictment alleges that Hagan was driving recklessly on June 11, 2019, near Lower Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park, when his actions caused the death of one person and seriously injured a second person.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service, Montana Highway Patrol, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.

Pacer case reference. 19-71.

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

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

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BILLINGS—Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee Shawn Thomas Conrad was sentenced today to 84 months in prison followed by 20 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Conrad also was ordered to pay $15,000 restitution, $5,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act assessment, and $100 special assessment.

Conrad, 49, of Billings, pleaded guilty in May to possession of child pornography.

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

“Exploiting children for sexual gratification is a serious crime and will not be tolerated. Every person who possesses child pornography re-injures the victim,” Attorney Alme said. “This sentence sends a strong message that whoever commits child pornography crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  I want to thank Assistant U. S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the FBI, the Billings Police Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their good work in this case.”

“Child pornography is a crime that leaves profound and long-lasting effects on the victims,” said Paul Haertel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office.  “The FBI would like to thank the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Billings Police Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for their assistance in bringing a child predator to justice.”

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that an investigation of Conrad, an agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for a child pornography crime that began in early August 2018 by the Billings Police Department, which is a member of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.   Having heard of the underlying police department investigation, Conrad’s supervisor went to Conrad’s home and seized an agency vehicle.  Conrad said his personal hard drive was in the vehicle and asked for the hard drive. The supervisor did not return it. Conrad asked his supervisor again that evening for his hard drive.

The USFWS obtained a search warrant for the hard drive, which was examined. The BPD also served a search warrant at Conrad’s residence and seized a laptop computer, which was examined. Both the hard drive and laptop contained child porn images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, FBI, BPD and USFWS.

BILLNGS—The former chairwoman of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition was arraigned today on charges in a 10-count indictment accusing her, and the Coalition’s ex-treasurer, of stealing federal grant funds to make unapproved trips to Las Vegas and to receive other unauthorized benefits, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Meredith McConnell, 50, of Busby, pleaded not guilty to seven counts charging her with theft from a program receiving federal funding, wire fraud, fraudulent travel claims and misprision of felony. McConnell was the Coalition’s chairwoman and the executive director of Healing Hearts.

Co-defendant Barbara Mary Daychief, 43, of Browning, the Coalition’s former treasurer, pleaded not guilty on Aug. 13 to six counts.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and released McConnell pending further proceedings.

If convicted of the most serious crime, McConnell faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

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

The indictment accuses McConnell and Daychief of stealing from Lame Deer-based coalition from about August 2017 until March 2018. The Coalition’s purpose is to help Native American victims of domestic and sexual violence.  In addition, the Coalition brings together Native American leaders and state representatives who administer state and federal funds for domestic violence and programming to improve resources for Native women and tribal programs.

The Coalition receives funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, which provides grants for victim services. From October 2017 to September 2018, the OVW awarded the Coalition $318,008 in federal funds.

In March 2017, the Coalition’s previous executive director, Toni Louise Plummer-Alvernaz, pleaded guilty to fraud for stealing from the Coalition. Plummer-Alvernaz was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay $246,024 restitution.

Two months later, the First Nations Development Institute held a two-day training for the Coalition in Billings, where it taught board members, including McConnell and Daychief, about conflicts of interest, whistleblower policies, code of ethics and financial oversight. The Coalition also received a special condition about reporting fraud in its September 2017 award package.

The indictment alleges McConnell and Daychief committed travel fraud, received travel payments on non-approved trips, including to Las Vegas, received and authorized double-payment for “days in service,” authorized unapproved construction projects and took other benefits they were not entitled to receive.

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

Pacer case reference. 19-90. The case may be monitored through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, 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—Jermaine David Richardson, a Billings resident who admitted possessing a semi-automatic pistol while having been convicted of a felony, was sentenced today to four years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Richardson, 25, pleaded guilty in April to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

U.S District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

Evidence presented by the prosecution in court records said that in January 2018, a Billings Police Department detective received a video showing Richardson with what appeared to be a black pistol in his hand while in the hallway of a Billings hotel. Richardson refers to the pistol as a Hi-Point. Five months later, police officers saw a stolen vehicle parked in front of Richardson’s residence and were aware that Richardson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a felony conviction in Illinois. Police officers ultimately executed a search warrant on Richardson’s residence and seized a .45-caliber semi-automatic Hi-Point pistol from his bedroom.

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

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–The pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Butte appeared today on wire fraud charges and admitted to embezzling $288,757 from the organization over a four-year period, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Kenneth Emmett Hogue, 66, of Butte, pleaded guilty to wire fraud as charged in an information during an initial appearance. Hogue faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. Desoto presided. Hogue was released pending further proceedings.

Hogue’s sentencing was set for Dec. 12, 2019. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen is hearing the case.

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that Hogue began serving as pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Butte in 1982. In April 2012, Hogue was elected secretary/treasurer of the Rocky Mountain District of the UPC. Hogue’s duties as secretary/treasurer included making church offering deposits at the bank, writing checks for church expenses, maintaining financial records and preparing annual financial statements in conjunction with the church’s annual conferences.

From June 2012 to July 2016, Hogue embezzled $288,757 from the church. He admitted the fraud to church personnel and during an FBI interview in March 2018. Hogue carried out the scheme by using a debit card that belonged to the District to withdraw cash from ATMs, by issuing an unauthorized check to himself from a District bank account and by opening a new bank account in the name of the District, without permission, and transferring money into that account. He later removed the transferred money using ATM transactions.

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

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GREAT FALLS—Wolf Point resident Desire Azkadelia Lambert, who admitted shooting a man in the chest after he left a meth deal without paying for the drug, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Lambert, 30, also known as Cassandra Lee Follette, pleaded guilty in May to assault with a dangerous weapon and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that on Sept. 13, 2018, the victim received methamphetamine from Lambert on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and left without paying Lambert. Lambert then borrowed her mother’s vehicle and obtained her firearm and drove to confront the victim. Lambert found the victim outside of a convenience store gas station in Wolf Point and pulled up next to the victim.

Lambert argued with victim, pulled out her gun, and shot the victim in the chest from her car. She fled the scene, disposed of the firearm, and went back to her mother’s house. Local law enforcement arrested Lambert at the residence on tribal charges. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the gun.

The victim was flown to a Billings hospital where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his chest.

Approximately one month later, while in tribal custody, Lambert contacted the FBI and informed investigators that she had lied about the location of the gun when initially interviewed. Lambert was temporarily released from jail to the custody of the investigators so that she could take the agent to the location where she had hidden the firearm after the shooting. The firearm, a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, was under a disabled truck in a neighborhood on the reservation. Officers also found three rounds of ammunition and a pistol magazine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, Wolf Point Police Department, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and the Montana Highway Patrol.

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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Fabjan Alameti, a New York City resident who was arrested at a Bozeman shooting range, today pleaded guilty to charges of making false statements involving international terrorism to the FBI, announced U.S. Attorney Kurte Alme for the District of Montana.

Alameti, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of false statements to a federal officer in a matter involving international terrorism. He faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Dec. 13, 2019 before Chief U.S. Judge Dana L. Christensen. Alameti was detained pending further proceedings.

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Alameti had been part of a terrorism investigation by the FBI in 2018. Alameti traveled to Bozeman in March 2019 and agreed to speak with an FBI agent. During that interview, Alameti said he had never talked about traveling overseas to fight for ISIS and that he had never wanted to hurt any Americans or anyone in the military, or words to that effect.

The statements were false because Alameti used a Facebook account and communicated with others that he wanted to travel overseas and fight for ISIS because he wanted to die a martyr’s death.  Alameti also communicated with others about targeting people in the United States and identified targets as gay night clubs, a federal building and an Army recruiting center.  Alameti admitted making statements to an individual that he wanted to “shoot people or something,” “I will attack random people to avenge the blood,” and “I’m going to Montana and gonna (sic) buy a gun since all they need is a background check and ID.”

Law enforcement arrested Alameti in April at a Bozeman shooting range after he allegedly took possession of a M1A he had rented.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes and Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone, from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

WASHINGTON – Fabjan Alameti, a New York City resident who was arrested at a Bozeman shooting range, today pleaded guilty to charges of making false statements involving international terrorism to the FBI, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme for the District of Montana.

Alameti, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of false statements to a federal officer in a matter involving international terrorism. He faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Dec. 13, 2019 before Chief U.S. Judge Dana L. Christensen. Alameti was detained pending further proceedings.

In court records filed in the case, the prosecution said Alameti had been part of a terrorism investigation by the FBI in 2018. Alameti traveled to Bozeman in March 2019 and agreed to speak with an FBI agent. During that interview, Alameti said he had never talked about traveling overseas to fight for ISIS and that he had never wanted to hurt any Americans or anyone in the military, or words to that effect.

The statements were false because Alameti used a Facebook account and communicated with others that he wanted to travel overseas and fight for ISIS because he wanted to die a martyr’s death.  Alameti also communicated with others about targeting people in the United States and identified targets as gay night clubs, a federal building and an Army recruiting center.  Alameti admitted making statements to an individual that he wanted to “shoot people or something,” “I will attack random people to avenge the blood,” and “I’m going to Montana and gonna (sic) buy a gun since all they need is a background check and ID.”

Law enforcement arrested Alameti in April at a Bozeman shooting range after he allegedly took possession of a M1A he had rented.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes and Trial Attorney Rebecca Magnone, from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

BILLINGS—Gregory Paul Green, a Billings resident who admitted to meth trafficking crimes after law enforcement found meth in his home along with drug manufacturing materials and $10,000 in silver coins, was sentenced to three years in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Green, 64, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute.

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

Prosecutors said in court records that law enforcement became aware of Green in December 2018 after a package that was addressed to Green was intercepted in Port Huron, MI. The package was labeled “Organic Fitness Vitamin” and opened by law enforcement. The package contained 1,471 Xanax pills. Investigators determined that 112 packages from various locations, including Canada, had been shipped to Green’s residence since December 2017.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Green’s house after the package was accepted by a person at the residence. Officers found meth, drugs and drug paraphernalia. In Green’s room was a computer displaying the “dark web” and a screen where Green was selling Xanax across the country. Agents also found packages, extensive packaging material, and drug manufacturing material, including hundreds of feet of glass tubing, glass beakers, a 100 pound butane tank and recipes for combining drugs. In addition, agents seized about $10,000 in silver coins.

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

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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BILLINGS—A Livingston man who admitted he lied on a form when he bought a firearm at a pawn shop was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Nicholas Tyler Smith, 25, pleaded guilty in April to making a false statement in a firearms acquisition.

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

On Sept. 1, 2018, Smith went to a pawn shop in Bozeman and filled out a form to buy a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The background check was delayed and the firearm was eventually purchased on Sept. 7, 2018. The FBI denied the transaction on Sept. 10, 2018. Smith was prohibited from buying the gun because he had an open felony case filed against him. Smith also lied on the form by responding, “No,” to the question of whether he was under indictment or information in any court for a felony or for any crime in which he could be imprisoned for more than a year. On Sept. 11, 2018, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives encountered Smith on BLM land south of Livingston. During an interview, Smith provided the agent with the pistol along with several rounds of ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McCarthy prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF.

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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BILLINGS—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme will meet with fellow members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, to discuss public safety and law enforcement issues that impact Native American and Alaska Native communities. Attorney Alme is vice chair of the subcommittee.

“After listening to tribal leaders last week at the Government to Government Consultation in Michigan, I look forward to meeting with the other U.S. Attorneys from across the country to improve safety for our American Indians and Alaska Natives, and especially for indigenous women,” Attorney Alme said. “We need to work together to reduce drug trafficking and violence, to ensure that those who go missing are found, and that victims of crime receive the help they need to heal.”

The annual meeting will begin Aug. 28 and run through Aug. 30. During this time, the NAIS will engage with tribal leaders and develop strategies and best practices to address missing and murdered indigenous people, drug trafficking, needed law enforcement resources, and safeguarding children from sexual abuse in Indian country.

The most common crimes investigated in Indian country include child sexual abuse, violent assaults, and adult sexual assaults, followed by homicide, other forms of child abuse, drug, and property crimes.  According to a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime, and more than half of all American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Native women and girls suffer a high rate of violence, including murder.

“United States Attorneys nationwide are committed to improving public safety in Indian country and rural Alaska. The work of Attorney General Barr’s Native American Issues Subcommittee is focused on reducing violent crime, improving law enforcement resources, and combating the distribution of methamphetamine and opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores, of the Northern District of Oklahoma and chair of the NAIS. “The disproportionate rates of violence affecting Native American and Alaska Native women is particularly troubling to me. With Attorney General Barr’s leadership, we will continue working with tribal leaders to find solutions to the epidemic of violence against indigenous women.”

Panel discussions will also focus on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and preserving Native American cultural patrimony. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States. 

The NAIS consists of 53 U.S. Attorneys serving in districts that include Indian Country or one or more federally recognized tribes and makes policy recommendations to the Attorney General. The NAIS has identified four priority areas: 1) Violent crime 2) Law enforcement resources 3) Drug trafficking and substance abuse, and 4) White collar crime. It is the longest standing subcommittee to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and helps develop, shape, and otherwise implement justice policies affecting Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

In fiscal year 2018, the Department of Justice awarded $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs, to 134 Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages.  In addition, the Department awarded a total of 154 grants totaling $88 million as part of the first-ever Tribal Victim Service Set-Aside program; these awards were supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees, and special assessments. The awards will help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance.  Even more funding will be available – up to $168 million – under the set-aside this year. 

In July 2019, the Department announced a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to input data directly and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS).  TTSORS is a fully functioning registry system that complies with Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requirements. The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TAP has been instrumental in assisting tribes with ongoing implementation of SORNA.  In fiscal year 2019, the department expanded TAP to 25 more tribes, for a total of more than 70 participating tribes across the country.

# # #

BILLINGS—Laurel resident David Beckett, who admitted to methamphetamine trafficking charges after picking up a package of the drug that was sent through the U.S. Postal Service, was sentenced today to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Beckett, 45, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and to possession with intent to distribute.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

In February, law enforcement got a tip about a package containing about a half-pound of meth was being shipped from California to a Laurel address, the prosecution said in court records. Beckett was to pick up the package and distribute the meth in Billings and surrounding areas.

Working with the U.S. Postal Inspector, law enforcement located the package and a K9 dog from the Billings Police Department alerted to the package. The same day, Beckett went to the post office in Laurel and said he was expecting a package. He was told the package was not available. Beckett returned a few hours later and again, was told the package was not available. The next day, Beckett returned to the post office and was told the package had not arrived. He provided law enforcement with his contact information and a tracking number for the package. The information he provided matched law enforcement’s information. After getting a federal search warrant for the package, law enforcement found about 114.4 grams of meth inside.

Law enforcement returned the package to the Laurel post office and called Beckett to tell him his package had arrived. Less than 10 minutes later, Beckett arrived, got out of his car and was arrested.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Bryan Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

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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BILLINGS—Lame Deer resident Danika Nurea Sanchez was sentenced today to three years in prison and five years of supervised release for conviction on methamphetamine trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Sanchez, 21, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

In July 2018, an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration bought about a quarter of a pound of meth from Sanchez in Billings. A quarter pound of meth is the equivalent of about 906 doses, the prosecution said in court documents filed in the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the DEA.

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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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 Aug. 19 was:

Benjamin Ira Badbear, 34, of Billings, and Carrie Marie Rinesmith, 39, of Billings. Badbear is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Rinesmith is charged with possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Badbear and Rinesmith face a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Both are detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pacer case reference. 19-92.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston on Aug. 20 and pleading not guilty was:

Timothy Blackman, 27, of Browning, on charges of sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blackman faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Blackman was released pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-52.

Appearing on Aug. 21 and pleading not guilty was:

Henry James Daychild, Jr., 41, of Box Elder, on charges of strangulation and domestic abuse by habitual offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Daychild faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Daychild was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-61.

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

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

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BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not seek federal charges in the death of Henny Scott, a 14-year-old Lame Deer girl whose body was found on Dec. 28, 2018 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. After a thorough investigation by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, the office has determined it cannot prove any federal crime was committed.

 Henny Scott was last seen on Dec. 8, 2018 when she walked away from a residence in the Muddy Creek area west of Lame Deer. Her body was found 200 yards from the residence. A forensic examination determined Henny Scott died of hypothermia and that the manner of death was accidental. The forensic examination did not find any significant trauma or preexisting disease. In addition, the investigation determined that when Scott was last seen alive, she was wearing light-weight clothing in below-freezing temperatures. The forensic examination also showed that alcohol use was a significant condition of her death.

As in all cases under its consideration, the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to determine whether a federal crime has been committed and whether it can prove all elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, the office cannot prove any federal crime was committed when Henny Scott walked away from the residence.

“This case has been a priority of this office, the FBI and BIA. Henny Scott’s death has deeply affected her family and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and has drawn significant public concern. We send our sympathies to Ms. Scott’s family and to the entire tribal community,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

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BILLINGS—Big Timber resident Eric Daniel Gibson was sentenced today to six years in prison and five years of supervised release after he admitted to possessing methamphetamine for distribution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Gibson, 28, pleaded guilty in February to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

In June 2017, Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single vehicle rollover near Interstate 90. Blood in the car suggested the driver was injured, the prosecution said in court documents. Witnesses said that the vehicle’s sole occupant had taken off running toward a nearby ranch. When the vehicle was turned upright, law enforcement found a cell phone and collected plastic baggies of meth and an ammunition tray. Gibson was found walking on the railroad tracks near the site of the accident. Investigators executed a search warrant on the cell phone and found text messages indicating meth distribution. The meth recovered totaled about 48.5 grams.

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

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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BILLINGS—Billings resident Kevin James Maslen, who admitted trafficking methamphetamine and pain pills along with having firearms, was sentenced today to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Maslen, 56, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

Evidence in the case showed that in June 2017, an undercover agent bought meth, morphine and oxycodone from Maslen on several occasions, the prosecution said in court records. In one of the deals, the agent bought morphine and two firearms from Maslen. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Maslen’s residence in May 2018 and found meth, 83 oxycodone tablets and firearms.

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

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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GREAT FALLS – A Billings man on Tuesday admitted to illegally possessing firearms after he was arrested last year on suspicion of driving under the influence on the Fort Peck Reservation, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Gabriel Hazard, 35, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hazard faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and detained Hazard pending further proceedings. Sentencing is set for Nov. 27, 2019.

The prosecutor said in court documents that law enforcement arrested Hazard for driving while under the influence after a Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle, driven by Hazard, going significantly slower than the speed limit on Highway 2 on the Fort Peck Reservation on Dec. 16, 2018. The deputy interacted with Hazard at the scene and observed that Hazard appeared to be under the influence of meth.

The officer looked into the vehicle and saw a pistol on the back seat, ammunition, a tactical-style vest, the grip of a handgun between the driver’s seat and center console, and a scale on the dash. Hazard had two rounds of ammunition in a pants pocket and a pistol holster on his belt. While Hazard was being booked into jail, an officer found a bag of meth in Hazard’s wallet. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found three firearms and ammunition.

The investigation determined Hazard was aware there were three firearms in his vehicle, that he used the guns for protection, and had sold meth on the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck reservations. Because of a prior felony conviction, Hazard was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Peck Tribes law enforcement.

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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BILLINGS—A Lame Deer man who admitted hitting and kicking an elderly woman was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jonathan Mark Limpy, 25, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in April.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The prosecution said in court records that the assault happened at a Busby residence on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation on Sept. 7, 2018. Limpy had been out drinking with friends and relatives during the day. That night, he argued with a woman and then assaulted another woman, who was elderly, by hitting her in the head and kicking her after she fell to the ground. The victim was transported to Billings Clinic where she ultimately had surgery.

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

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BILLINGS—U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme will join U.S. Department of Justice officials in New Buffalo, Mich., this week for a two-day consultation with tribal leaders on violence against women.

The meeting will be held on Aug. 21 and 22 at the Silver Creek Event Center Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich.

The gathering of federal and tribal officials is for the 14th annual Government-to-Government consultation to solicit recommendations from tribal leaders on enhancing safety and strengthening federal law enforcement efforts to the crimes of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native women. There also will be consultation on administering funds and programs for tribal governments established by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation.

“I look forward to hearing from tribal leaders on how we can improve safety for American Indian women and reduce the violence they experience. Eighty four percent, or more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women, have experienced violence in their lifetime, the National Institute of Justice reports. We must work together to address solve this chronic problem through law enforcement responses and federal support of prevention and victim services programs,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

U.S. Attorney Alme is vice chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee.

Participants will include the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Interior, along with tribal leaders of federally-recognized Indian Tribes.  

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MISSOULA—A Missoula man who admitted distributing methamphetamine in the community and trading firearms for drugs was sentenced today to six years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Blade Michael Sorenson, 23, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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

The prosecution said in court records that from the summer of 2017 until about the fall of 2018, Sorenson was distributing large amounts of meth in the area and traded guns in exchange for drugs and cash. Multiple confidential informants told law enforcement of buying meth from Sorenson, seeing him with at least one pound of meth, trading firearms for meth, marijuana and cash and buying a .45 caliber handgun from him. A pound of meth is the equivalent of about 3,624 doses. In August 2018, a Missoula Police Department officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Sorenson was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, officers found meth and a semi-automatic handgun that Sorenson admitted were his.

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

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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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 Aug. 13 was:

Mark Luciano, 59, of Henderson, NV, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Luciano faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Luciano was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. Pacer case reference. 19-86.

Seth William Daniel, 24, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Daniel faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Daniel was detained. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Pacer case reference. 19-102.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston for an initial appearance on a complaint on Aug. 15 was:

Sean Henry White Bremmer, 24, of Browning, on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, receipt of child pornography and transfer of obscene material to minors. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bremmer faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference.  19-63.

Appearing on an indictment and pleading not guilty was:

William Joseph Spotted Eagle, 38, of Heart Butte, on charges of sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spotted Eagle faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-58.

Appearing on Aug. 14 and pleading not guilty was:

Joshua James Birdrattler, 35, of Browning, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted of the most serious crime, Birdrattler faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI. Pacer case reference. 19-57.

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—Ellen Lorraine Van Ausdol, a Bozeman resident who ran a money management service for court-appointed clients, was sentenced today to nine months in prison and three years supervised release for stealing her clients’ funds and spending most of the money on gambling expenses, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, who presided, also ordered Van Ausdol, 78, to pay $186,452.99 in restitution, with $133,558.99 to the victims and $52,894 to the IRS.

“Ms. Van Ausdol’s actions were deplorable. Those who defraud and embezzle, and particularly those who exploit the vulnerable, can expect to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

Van Ausdol pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud and to making and subscribing to a false tax return.

Van Ausdol operated a money management business called Fiduciary Consulting and Management, which provided services for court-appointed clients, the prosecution said in court records.  Many of the clients had mental deficiencies and lacked the ability to manage their own money.

Van Ausdol embezzled from her clients during a six-year period, from about 2010 to 2016, and told investigators she used the majority of the money to cover her gambling expenses. The investigation also found that Van Ausdol did not pay income taxes of $52,894.00 on the stolen money.

The prosecution said the embezzled funds totaled $253,528, bringing the total fraud loss to $306,422.  Van Ausdol repaid $119,950 to victims in 2016, leaving $94,558.99 owed to them in restitution.

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

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BILLINGS—A Busby man who admitting having sex with a minor on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 2017 was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and to five years of supervised release, said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

Romer Jesse Jaure, 28, pleaded guilty in April to sexual abuse of a minor.

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

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Jaure had sex with a minor in September 2017 at his residence after he and the victim had been drinking and smoking marijuana. The victim told Jaure no but he ignored her. The victim was between the ages of 12 and 16 at the time.

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

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BILLINGS—Crow Agency resident Ralph Kenneth Costa was sentenced today to two years in prison and three years of supervised release after he admitted to assault charges for dragging the victim with his vehicle, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Costa, 34, pleaded guilty in April to assault resulting in substantial injury to a dating partner.

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

The prosecution said in court records that the assault occurred on July 4, 2017 as Costa and the victim were driving from Dunmore, on the Crow Indian Reservation, to Hardin. Both were intoxicated. During the trip, Costa got angry with the victim and began hitting her in the head. The victim asked Costa to pull over so she could get out. Costa pulled over on a concrete bridge, and as the victim got out, Costa pulled forward, knocking down the victim. Costa then backed up, pulling the victim under the open door and dragging her on the concrete. A witness who was behind Costa’s vehicle took the victim to the hospital. The victim suffered cuts, abrasions and road rash.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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BILLINGS – A jury on Wednesday convicted Billings resident Charles Eugene Venditti of methamphetamine trafficking crimes, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The trial began on Monday.

The jury found Venditti, 42, guilty of all five counts in an indictment, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and three counts of distribution.

 Venditti faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen set sentencing for Jan. 14, 2020. Venditti is detained.

“Mr. Venditti’s conviction sends the message that those who sell meth will be held responsible for pushing this poison in the community. I want to commend the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the prosecution team for their work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that law enforcement received information in May 2018 that Venditti was distributing meth. Law enforcement worked with a confidential informant to make three monitored meth buys from Venditti. Two of the buys occurred at Venditti’s tattoo business at 145 Grand Ave., and one occurred in Venditti’s vehicle. Each purchase was for an ounce of meth for $800.

Law enforcement served search warrants in June 2018 on Venditti’s residence and tattoo business and on another person’s residence. The search found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of meth at Venditti’s residence.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Godfrey and Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

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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BILLINGS—The former board treasurer of the Montana Native Women’s Coalition was arraigned today on charges in a 10-count indictment accusing her, along with the Coalition’s ex-chairwoman, of stealing federal grant funds to make unapproved trips to Las Vegas and to receive other unauthorized benefits, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Barbara Mary Daychief, 43, of Browning, pleaded not guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funding, wire fraud, fraudulent travel claims and misprision of felony. Daychief, who was the Coalition’s treasurer, is charged with a total of six counts.

Co-defendant Meredith McConnell, 49, of Busby, who was the Coalition’s chairwoman and the executive director for Healing Hearts, is charged with a total of seven counts. McConnell is set for arraignment on Aug. 29.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and released Daychief pending further proceedings.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Daychief faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

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

The indictment accuses McConnell and Daychief of stealing from the Lame Deer-based coalition from about August 2017 until March 2018. The Coalition’s purpose is to help Native American victims of domestic and sexual violence.  In addition, the Coalition brings together Native American leaders and state representatives who administer state and federal funds for domestic violence and programming to improve resources for Native women and tribal programs.

The Coalition receives funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, which provides grants for victim services. From October 2017 to September 2018, the OVAW awarded the Coalition $318,008 in federal funds.

In March 2017, the Coalition’s previous executive director, Toni Louise Plummer-Alvernaz, pleaded guilty to fraud for stealing from the Coalition. Plummer-Alvernaz was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay $246,024 restitution.

Two months later, the First Nations Development Institute held a two-day training for the Coalition in Billings, where it taught board members, including McConnell and Daychief, about conflicts of interest, whistleblower policies, code of ethics and financial oversight. The Coalition also received a special condition about reporting fraud in its September 2017 award package.

The indictment alleges McConnell and Daychief committed travel fraud, received travel payments on non-approved trips, including to Las Vegas, received and authorized double-payment for “days in service,” authorized unapproved construction projects and took other benefits they were not entitled to receive.

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

Pacer case reference. 19-90. The progress of the case may be monitored through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, 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 California man was arraigned today on an indictment accusing him of using the Internet and cell phones to harass individuals and to threaten to damage the reputations of two persons unless they paid him money, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Bryan Gregg Waterfield Nash, 54, of Woodside, CA, pleaded not guilty to interstate stalking and to interstate communication with intent to extort. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nash faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Nash was released pending further proceedings.

An indictment is merely an accusation. Nash is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The indictment alleges that from December 2013 through June 2019 in Whitefish and in California, Nash used a computer, cell phone, email and the Internet to harass or intimidate approximately 33 persons. The indictment further alleges that Nash sent electronic messages to two individuals threatening to damage their reputations by releasing information about alleged behavior to law enforcement and to the media if the individuals refused to pay him substantial sums of money.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Racicot is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

Pacer reference No. 19-30.

The progress of the case may be monitored 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 Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Aug. 8 was:

Kristopher Daniel Rainey, 35, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rainey faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Rainey was released pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI West Task Force. Pacer case reference. 19-99.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Aug. 8 was:

Nicholas Gregorio-Matias, 41, of Mexico, on charges of illegal reentry. If convicted of the most serious crime, Gregorio-Matias faces a maximum two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol and Toole County Sheriff’s Office. Pacer case reference. 19-55.

Donald Paul Olson, 38, of Conrad, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Olson faces a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and four years of supervised release. Olson was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Montana Highway Patrol. Pacer case reference. 19-47.

Leah Goggles, 36, of Cut Bank, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Goggles faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Goggles was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service Pacer case reference. 19-50.

Ryan Joseph Cantrell, 23, of Wolf Point, on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cantrell faces a maximum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. He was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI and Fort Peck Criminal Investigation. Pacer case reference. 19-48.

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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