District of Montana

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 21, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, MICHAEL BEARHILL, JR., a 21-year-old resident of Wolf Point and an enrolled member of a federally-recognized tribe, pled guilty to robbery. Sentencing has been set for August 27, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In the early hours of February 2, 2013, BEARHILL entered a convenience store in Wolf Point, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and pointed what appeared to be a gun at two employees behind the counter. He forced them to open the till while he continued to point the gun at an employee. An employee described the robber as having a blank stare, and she realized he was serious. He removed over $300 from the till and fled. He was later identified on video by other employees as BEARHILL.

When questioned, BEARHILL admitted to going into the convenience store, pulling a gun out of his coat, and telling the employees he wanted money.

BEARHILL faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 22, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individual was arraigned:

PATRICK CHARLES THOMAS, a 55-year-old resident of Cut Bank, appeared on charges of violation of the False Claims Act, conversion of secured property, and federal agricultural loan fraud/false writing. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, THOMAS faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release on each count. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on May 21, 2013, in Billings, after a federal district court trial before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, VINCE LEE WHITEMAN, a 23-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting assault with a dangerous weapon. A sentencing date will be scheduled at a later time. He is currently detained.

At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.

On the evening of July 29, 2011, the victim was with his nephew and they were drinking together. At some point they met up with WHITEMAN and then, later, met up with Zachary Knows His Gun. All four drove to Soldier Gulch Road where they parked the car and continued to drink. The victim and Knows His Gun were in the back seat of the car. WHITEMAN had a knife with him.

An argument about who was tougher led Knows His Gun to ask WHITEMAN for his knife. WHITEMAN gave him his knife. Knows His Gun then stabbed the victim in the neck. The victim fought back, which resulted in WHITEMAN joining the fight and, according to the victim and Knows His Gun, also stabbing the victim in the neck. The victim got out of the car and was able to run away. The victim identified both Knows His Gun and WHITEMAN as the assailants.

After hiding in the hills for a period of time, the victim went to a house for help.

WHITEMAN was interviewed and admitted that he gave Knows His Gun his knife, but claimed that he did not know why Knows His Gun wanted the knife. He denied stabbing or assaulting the victim and, in fact, claimed that he pulled Knows His Gun away from the victim and tried to help the victim.

Knows His Gun, the nephew, and another witness were interviewed and described the knife that WHITEMAN was carrying the day of the assault. Knows His Gun and the other witness provided law enforcement with drawings of the knife during the investigation.

WHITEMAN was arrested on tribal charges and his pants, which appeared to have blood on them, were seized. DNA analysis confirmed that the major contributor of the DNA extracted from the blood stain on WHITEMAN's pants was the victim's.

Knows His Gun pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and is serving a 37-month federal sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan P. McCarthy and Legal Intern Amanda Tiernan prosecuted the case for the United States.

WHITEMAN faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release on each count.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 21, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, MARTIN LLOYD OLD HORN, a 22-year-old resident of Hardin, was arraigned and pled guilty to mail fraud - scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by false promises. Sentencing has been set for September 10, 2013. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office (CTHPO) Is a designated office of the Crow Indian Tribe that provides for direct Tribal involvement and leadership in the protection and enhancement of Crow lands and cultural resources. It serves to identify, inventory, and protect culturally, archeologically, and historically important resources both on and off the reservation.

Each year, the CTHPO receives grant funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A requirement for any enterprise seeking to do work on the reservation that may disturb tribal lands - utilities, construction, energy exploration, development - is that the business employ the services of a CTHPO employee (archeological technician) to monitor the project to insure that lands of cultural or historic importance are not destroyed. The company is then charged for this monitoring service and payments are made to the Crow Tribe.

During the summers of 2010 and 2011, either before leaving for or while home from school at the University of Montana (UM), OLD HORN, at the urging and instigation of his mother and other family members, represented himself to be a monitor for the Crow Tribe Historical Preservation Office. He had no training for the position, had not been hired by the Crow Tribe to be a tribal monitor, and had no authority other than the direction of his family to engage in the business of being a tribal monitor.

During 2010, the evidence would have reflected that the invoices to companies for direct payment to OLD HORN, for his purported services, were submitted by his mother. During 2011, the time period alleged in the indictment, the evidence indicates that OLD HORN submitted invoices for his purported services directly. OLD HORN billed on an hourly basis and always billed for an entire day. The evidence would show that OLD HORN was usually in the company of his mother or cousin when on-site, that he made no logs or reports documenting his work or observations as required by legitimate monitoring standards, and that on numerous occasions he was not on site for the hours billed to the company. During the time period of the indictment - the two month period in the summer of 2011 - OLD HORN received $19,184.15 in compensation from companies doing business on the Crow Indian Reservation.

In addition, OLD HORN received an additional $24,477 when his mother submitted invoices on his behalf, for a total of $43,661 received on the basis of his billing for services as if a legitimate tribal monitor. The United States maintains that the fraudulent nature of the invoices remains the same whether submitted by OLD HORN or his mother. The United States and OLD HORN have stipulated to one-half of the total amount - $21,830 - as restitution and use in the fraud loss calculation based on the time and service that may have been legitimately rendered.

The companies made their payments to Martin OLD HORN through the U.S. Mail.

OLD HORN faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Inspector General. # # # #

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 20, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DONALD CARL SALOIS, a 49-year-old resident of Browning, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: life

SALOIS was sentenced after a federal district court trial in which he was found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan G. Weldon and Laura B. Weiss prosecuted the case for the United States.

At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.

On February 25, 2010, SALOIS picked up the victim, a 51-year-old grandmother, in his vehicle along Highway 2, south of Browning, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. SALOIS said that he would take the victim home, but that never occurred. Instead, SALOIS passed the victim's residence, stopped at a sufficiently secluded place, exited his vehicle, and brutally raped the victim.

When questioned by law enforcement, SALOIS admitted that he had sex with the victim, but claimed the encounter was consensual and occurred in his residence, not on the side of the road. SALOIS also claimed that he never left his residence the night of the rape. The FBI investigated and discovered that neighbors, on the night of the rape, did not see the vehicle owned by SALOIS at the residence.

After the government presented testimony of 12 witnesses over the course of a day and a half, which included medical professionals, law enforcement, lay witnesses, and a DNA expert, the jury convicted SALOIS.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SALOIS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 14, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, RONALD JAY MILLER, a 56-year-old resident of Helena, pled guilty to access with the intent to view child pornography. Sentencing has been set for August 9, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From approximately 2011 until October 18, 2012, MILLER accessed visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his computer.

Montana Probation and Parole conducted a probation search of MILLER's residence on October 18, 2012, in reference to his possession of firearms at his residence. At that time, MILLER's computer and a number of floppy discs were seized.

While looking for information on MILLER's computer and floppy discs for firearm information, law enforcement located an image of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic examination revealed that MILLER accessed images and videos containing children engaged in sexually explicit conduct using his computer and the Internet. The Internet access dates were between approximately June 2011 and October 2012.

MILLER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Montana Probation and Parole.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 16, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER BIRDTAIL, a 36-year-old resident of Harlem and an enrolled member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, pled guilty to abusive sexual contact. Sentencing has been set for August 27, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On Friday, June 22, 2012, BIRDTAIL sexually abused an approximately one-and-a-half years old child. The child was taken to an emergency room where a doctor confirmed that the victim had been sexually abused.

BIRDTAIL was interviewed and admitted that he had abused the victim.

The crime occurred on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

BIRDTAIL faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Belknap Tribes Law Enforcement.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 16, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, JOSCAYNE DENNY, a 33-year-old resident of Box Elder, pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance. Sentencing has been set for August 16, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danna R. Jackson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On March 30, 2012, DENNY knowingly gave two girls methamphetamine. Both girls smoked the methamphetamine out of a broken lightbulb. One girl was taken to the Northern Montana Hospital shortly after she ingested the methamphetamine. A toxicology report showed amphetamine was in her system.

DENNY faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 14, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, SHAHID SINDHU KHAN, a 39-year-old resident of Othello, Washington, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 18 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 4 years

KHAN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara L. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 23, 2012, a Confidential Informant (CI) was scheduled to purchase cocaine from KHAN and Ijaz Khan Sindhu in Missoula. Prior to arriving in Montana, KHAN and Sindhu were stopped by Idaho police officers and it was later discovered that they had 10 ounces of cocaine in their car.

The CI would have testified that he purchased cocaine from Sindhu on numerous occasions between January and August of 2012, and usually purchased approximately 9 ounces of cocaine at a time. He would have further testified that KHAN was with Sindhu on at least 4 or 5 of those occasions and at least once KHAN took the money from the CI for the cocaine.

Sindhu pled guilty to federal charges.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that KHAN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, KHAN does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 16, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge, ONEY JOSEPH BAKER, a 39-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to being a felon-in-possession of firearms and an armed career criminal. Sentencing has been set for August 16, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 17, 1999, BAKER was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 51 months imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and distribution of a controlled substance. The sentence of imprisonment was to be followed by three years of supervised release, wherein the court ordered BAKER to not own or possess a firearm.

On October 30, 2002, the Montana Eight Judicial District Court in Cascade County sentenced BAKER for the crime of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs. Specifically, the court sentenced BAKER to three years to the Department of Corrections, and ordered Baker to not own, possess, or be in control of any firearms or deadly weapons.

On April 27, 2007, the Montana Eighth Judicial District Court in Cascade County sentenced BAKER for three felony convictions: assault with a weapon, theft, and robbery. The three convictions were from different cases, however, they were resolved in one global plea agreement and sentencing. The court sentenced BAKER to ten years imprisonment at the Montana State Prison. It also specifically ordered that he "shall not own, possess, or be in control of any firearms or deadly weapons."

On July 8, 2012, around 3:09 pm, Great Falls police officers were dispatched to Bobo's Casino for a report of an armed robbery. Officers arrived at Bobo's and spoke with an employee of the casino. The employee said she had been throwing trash away when a man entered the casino through the east side door. She turned toward the man and he pointed a small black handgun at her head. The man, described as a Native American male, approximately 5'9" and 160 pounds, yelled, "give me the money, bitch!" The employee emptied the money in her apron, which contained approximately $300 to $400 dollars in cash. The man became upset and said, "that's, not all there is, bitch!" The employee opened the cash register. The register contained only loose change and the man tossed the register in anger once he saw it did not contain any cash. He ran out of the same east side door, got into a green minivan, and drove off at a high rate of speed.

The manager of Bobo's Casino arrived shortly thereafter and pulled up the surveillance video of the time of the robbery. Officers observed that the robbery took place exactly as the employee had described. Detectives then began to investigate the robbery, and numerous tips were called in to the police department.

The next day a concerned citizen called the police and stated there was a suspicious green minivan parked on the street that he had not seen the previous evening. Officers responded to the report of the suspicious car. They believed the parked minivan matched the description of the minivan used in the robbery. After again viewing the surveillance video, the officers found the minivan in the video was clearly the minivan parked on the street.

Numerous other tips continued to be reported. The tips and further investigation indicated that BAKER had robbed the casino.

On July 18, 2012, law enforcement observed BAKER leave a house carrying a dark colored piece of rolling luggage and a blue duffel bag. BAKER was with two other individuals. Law enforcement began to follow the car once BAKER drove away. At one point, BAKER tried to conceal the car by driving into an alley. A Deputy U.S. Marshal turned on his top lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop and the car immediately fled at a high rate of speed through neighborhood streets.

The car stopped at an apartment complex and all three people fled on foot. Police caught the other individuals, but BAKER had fled through the neighborhoods. Law enforcement yelled at BAKER to stop running and he refused to stop. BAKER dropped the duffel bag near a garage as he ran. A neighbor recovered the duffel bag and provided it to police. Three detectives finally apprehended BAKER who had to be held down by all three men.

Detectives searched the duffel bag they recovered from BAKER, as well as the vehicle. The detectives recovered a Lorcin, model L380, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol from the front passenger seat floorboard. This pistol had been in BAKER's possession, and it contained seven rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, including one round that was in the chamber. A search of the duffel bag revealed a fully loaded Mossberg, model 500A, 12 gauge pump action shotgun. Law enforcement seized five rounds of 12 gauge ammunition from the shotgun. Detectives also found 25 rounds of 20 gauge ammunition and 18 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition in the duffel bag.

BAKER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 15, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JERARD DAVID JO THREEFINGERS, a 23-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Sentencing has been set for September 9, 2013.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On October 2, 2012, at approximately 12:30 p.m., law enforcement was advised of a one vehicle rollover crash on Crazy Head Springs Road near Lame Deer on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. The caller reported that one passenger was unconscious and another passenger was injured and needed medical help. Law enforcement arrived on the scene and found both a male and female lying on the ground. The female was deceased; the male was alive but injured. Law enforcement took photographs and collected evidence, including an empty Budweiser 30-pack container and 2 unopened cans of Budweiser.

After additional investigation, law enforcement learned that the vehicle, a Ford Explorer, was owned by the deceased female but they were unsure whether she had been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. There were clear shoe impressions on the brake pedal and the driver's side door panel, but the deceased female was barefoot. Also, the driver's side seat was adjusted for someone much taller than the deceased female.

After some additional investigation, law enforcement learned that THREE FINGERS and another female had been in the car at the time of the crash but had walked away from the scene. Approximately two hours after the crash, THREE FINGERS was located by law enforcement and arrested on tribal charges of intoxication, DUI, and criminal homicide. THREE FINGERS was not interviewed until the next day because of his level of intoxication.

At first, THREE FINGERS identified the deceased female as the driver but, after further questioning, THREE FINGERS admitted that he was the driver. He admitted that he had been drinking prior to the crash and he explained that he hit a bump, lost control of the car, and caused the death of female and the injuries to the other passenger.

A toxicology screen of a blood sample taken from THREE FINGERS about three hours after the crash contained a blood alcohol content of .09.

The passenger that walked away from the scene with THREE FINGERS was interviewed and also admitted that THREE FINGERS was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.

THREEFINGERS faces possible penalties of 8 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 14, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, IJAZ KHAN SINDHU, a 33-year-old resident of Othello Washington, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 60 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 4 years

SINDHU was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara L. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 23, 2012, a Confidential Informant (CI) was scheduled to purchase cocaine from Shahid Khan and SINDHU in Missoula. Prior to arriving in Montana, Khan and SINDHU were stopped by Idaho police officers and it was later discovered that they had 10 ounces of cocaine in their car.

The CI would have testified that he purchased cocaine from SINDHU on numerous occasions between January and August of 2012, and usually purchased approximately 9 ounces of cocaine at a time. He would have further testified that Khan was with SINDHU on at least 4 or 5 of those occasions and at least once Khan took the money from the CI for the cocaine.

Khan pled guilty to federal charges.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SINDHU will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SINDHU does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 15, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, MATTHEW THOMAS MORLEDGE, a 31-year-old resident of Billings, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 24 months, consecutive to revocation sentence

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

MORLEDGE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan M. McCarthy and Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 27, 2012, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped MORLEDGE for speeding in a construction zone in Gallatin County. The trooper asked MORLEDGE to exit the vehicle and as he did so, MORLEDGE reached with his right hand under his folded down center arm rest and either retrieved or concealed something. As he stood up, he worked his hand around his waist band. The trooper asked if MORLEDGE had weapons, and he denied it. The trooper asked for MORLEDGE to lift his shirt so he could observe his waistband. There was part of a plastic baggie protruding above the waistline of MORLEDGE's underwear below his navel. The trooper asked about the bag and MORLEDGE denied there was a bag. As the trooper patted MORLEDGE down for weapons, he felt large amounts of cash in his pockets. MORLEDGE said it was about $5,000, then said the amount was closer to $6,000. MORLEDGE admitted he was on federal probation for possession of explosives.

MORLEDGE was convicted in 2005 and re-sentenced in 2007 for distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a pipe bomb in two separate cases in Federal District Court in Billings. MORLEDGE was re-sentenced to 97 months in prison and was released to supervision on March 12, 2012.

A search of MORLEDGE's person and vehicle was authorized by his probation officer. During that search a baggie containing a white crystal substance that MORLEDGE admitted was "dope" was found in MORLEDGE's pants. Also found was the baggie full of suspected cutting agent and $7,530 in cash in MORLEDGE's shorts.

Testing of the narcotics found in MORLEDGE's shorts found that the 9.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine were in fact 88.4% pure methamphetamine, for a total of 8.2 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MORLEDGE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MORLEDGE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice today reached a comprehensive agreement with the Missoula, Mont., Police Department to ensure that the police department fairly and effectively responds to reports of sexual assault. In May 2012, the Justice Department launched an investigation into allegations that the Missoula Police Department was failing to adequately respond to and investigate reports of sexual assault, due to unlawful gender discrimination in violation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and the anti-discrimination provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The Agreement announced today resolves the Justice Department's investigation of the Missoula Police Department. The department also released a letter of findings outlining the results of the investigation.

The agreement with the Missoula Police Department requires that the police department:

• nitor, community-based organizations and other stakeholders, to develop and implement the reforms described in the agreement, and to evaluate OPS' success in effecting meaningful reform;

The city of Missoula anticipates that it will achieve compliance with this agreement within two years.

A police department cannot truly protect women in its community without being prepared to respond to reports of sexual assault effectively and without bias," said Roy L. Austin Jr., Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "Equal access to the protection of police and the courts is a matter of basic justice. We commend the City of Missoula and the Missoula Police Department for its cooperation and for taking the steps necessary to maintain women's safety and promote the community's confidence in its police response to sexual assault. The leadership of Mayor Engen and Chief Muir has been indispensable to this process."

As the first responder to most reports of sexual assault in Missoula, the Missoula Police Department plays an absolutely critical role in protecting women victims of sexual assault and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual assault are brought to justice," said Michael Cotter, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana. "This agreement will ensure that the department's officers and detectives are fully prepared to play that role."

The Justice Department's review of the Missoula Police Department was one of three simultaneous civil pattern or practice investigations into allegations that law enforcement was systematically failing to protect women victims of sexual assault in Missoula. Alongside its investigation of the Missoula Police Department, the Justice Department conducted parallel investigations of the Missoula County Attorney's Office and the University of Montana's Office of Public Safety. Last week, the Justice Department and the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights entered into twin agreements with the University of Montana to address the university's response to reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus; those agreements resolved the Justice Department investigation of the university's Office of Public Safety. The Justice Department's investigation of the Missoula County Attorney's Office is ongoing.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana. The prevention of sex-based discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Offices. The Civil Rights Division has worked to ensure that women are not subject to discriminatory practices related to police services in New Orleans, Puerto Rico and elsewhere. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao/mt.

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 14, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individual was arraigned:

JAMES HOWARD EASTLICK, a 69-year-old resident of Laurel, appeared on appeared on charges of:

Count I: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

Penalty: Five years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Counts II-VI: Scheme to Defraud the United States and the Chippewa Cree Tribe/ Wire Fraud

Penalty: 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count VII: Theft of Federal Monies

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count VIII: Theft from an Indian Tribal Government Receiving Federal Funding

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count IX: Receipt of Stolen Money in Interstate Commerce

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Counts X-XVII: Money Laundering

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

EASTLICK pled not guilty to the charges and is currently released on special conditions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Inspector General, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 10, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, KEITH DANIEL SKUNKCAP, a 21-year-old resident of Browning and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 21 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

SKUNKCAP was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to burglary.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 17, 2011, at approximately 2:00 a.m., SKUNKCAP entered the residence of T.L.G. The residence is located Browning, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

T.L.G., the owner of the residence, told SKUNKCAP to leave, but he refused. T.L.G. pointed to the back door of the residence, again requesting SKUNKCAP to leave. SKUNKCAP eventually pushed T.L.G. After being pushed, T.L.G. fell to the ground. As a result of the assault, T.L.G.'s upper lip was split open. T.L.G. was transported to Kalispell due to the seriousness of the facial laceration. T.L.G. underwent reconstructive surgery on her lip and nose.

In an interview with the FBI, SKUNKCAP admitted that he pushed T.L.G. Although SKUNKCAP claimed that T.L.G. hit him about seven times in the face, he did not have any injuries.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SKUNKCAP will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SKUNKCAP does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 10, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, DELWAYNE DENNY, a 30-year-old resident of Box Elder and an enrolled member of the Chippewa Tribe, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 85 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 10 years

DENNY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual abuse.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danna R. Jackson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On March 11, 2012, DENNY, along with three other adults, returned to a house located on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation. The victim, who was very intoxicated, was taken into one of the bedrooms, by two concerned teenage boys, to "sleep it off." At some point in the evening DENNY went into the bedroom and engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim, even though she was passed out.

The victim regained consciousness and demanded that DENNY stop having sex with her. The victim grabbed clothes and left the house to look for help. Law enforcement had been called by a neighbor. Law enforcement found the victim in the fetal position in the middle of the roadway, crying hysterically. The victim was transported to the emergency room in Havre and consented to a sexual assault exam.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that DENNY will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, DENNY does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rocky Boy's Police Department.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 9, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, THEODORE EDWARD WHITFORD, a 27-year-old resident of Box Elder and an enrolled member of the federally recognized Chippewa Cree Indian Tribe, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for August 15, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danna R. Jackson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 8, 2011, WHITFORD turned the vehicle he was driving west into the Northern Winz Casino parking lot and was struck by another vehicle traveling north on Highway 87. This vehicle had the right-of-way.

A toxicology report indicated that WHITFORD had a BAC of .265 and screened positive for both opiates and THC. The crash occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

As a result of the crash, a passenger in the other vehicle was seriously injured. The passenger was diagnosed with a hip fracture and required hospitalization.

WHITFORD faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hill County Sheriff's Office, and the Rocky Boy's Police Department.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 10, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JASON CHARLES SHOUSE, a 36-year-old resident of Cascade County, appeared for sentencing. SHOUSE was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 600 months

Special Assessment: $200

Supervised Release: life

SHOUSE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and production of child pornography.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In 1997, in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Montana, SHOUSE pled to sexual intercourse without consent. In June of 1998, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with 18 years suspended. Due to that offense, SHOUSE was required to register as a sex offender.

In July 2012, the Cascade County Sheriff's Office received a report that photos which depicted child pornography were located on one of SHOUSE's old cell phones. The SD card from the old cell phone was seized and searched. Investigators located videos on the SD card which depicted SHOUSE performing sexual acts on an approximately 2-year-old child. SHOUSE was identified on the videos and appeared to have filmed the videos himself in 2008.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SHOUSE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SHOUSE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Cascade County Sheriff's Office, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in

Great Falls, on May 9, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individual was arraigned:

KEITH CLIFFORD CUNNINGHAM, a 69-year-old resident of Arizona and Montana, appeared on a charge of sexual exploitation of children. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, CUNNINGHAM faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 15 years and could be sentenced to 30 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on May 9, 2013, in Helena, after a federal district court trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, BRAD CHARLES FISHER, 51, a former resident of Helena and a current resident of Kenmore, Washington, was found guilty of attempt to evade or defeat income tax. Sentencing is set for September 13, 2013. He is currently released on special conditions.

At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.

From April 2006 until January 2008, FISHER attempted to evade and defeat the payment of an income tax due and owing by him to the United States for the calendar years 2001 to 2006 by concealing and attempting to conceal from the Internal Revenue Service the nature and extent of his assets and by making false statements to Internal Revenue Service agents.

From 2001 through 2006, FISHER earned substantial amounts of income by selling insurance products. However, FISHER did not file any tax returns for these years until mid-2006. After IRS commenced a civil audit of FISHER for the 2001-03 tax years, and later sent him a notice of tax deficiency for this period, FISHER eventually filed his 2001-06 returns. In these tax returns, FISHER reported that he earned income and owed tax. However, contrary to his accountant's instruction, he only paid a small portion of his tax due. By FISHER's own estimation, he owed a total of about $444,761 in tax for 2001-06 (not including interest and penalties). He paid a total of about $44,444. Accordingly, IRS referred this case to its Collections division. An IRS agent was assigned to collect FISHER's back taxes, and he contacted FISHER in or about April 2006 to initiate the collections process. The agent asked that FISHER fill out a Collection Information Statement, which calls for the taxpayer to disclose his assets.

When the agent first met with FISHER on May 9, 2006, FISHER provided a partially filled out Collection Information Statement. Because the form did not list any motor vehicles, the agent asked FISHER what motor vehicles he owned. FISHER listed several cars, but failed to mention four to which he held title at the time: a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1974 Chevrolet Nova, a 1996 GMC K-1500, and a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe. FISHER also failed to mention a 2004 Chaparral boat that he owned, until the agent inquired about a reference to a boat in FISHER's bank records during a later meeting. Even then, FISHER said he had "no equity" in the boat, when in fact he sold it shortly thereafter and received $17,227 net of encumbrances.

In late 2006, as it became apparent that FISHER was not selling assets voluntarily, the IRS began to take steps to levy certain of his assets. On April 9, 2007, FISHER sent a second Collection Information Statement to the agent. Again, however, it failed to disclose a vehicle that FISHER owned, this time a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado that he had recently purchased. As IRS Collections proceeded toward seizure of FISHER's assets, FISHER filed for bankruptcy on November 14, 2007. It was only during a subsequent bankruptcy hearing that the agent learned about the vintage classic cars that FISHER had previously concealed.

In addition to the agent's testimony and presentation of Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records concerning the concealed vehicles, the government offered testimony from the persons that sold certain cars (and the boat) to FISHER, as well as from the buyers who later purchased the vehicles from him. FISHER's travel agent also testified that, during the time his tax debt was outstanding, FISHER purchased expensive vacation packages instead, belying any suggestion that FISHER attempted to pay his debt in good faith.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad C. Spraker and Department of Justice Tax Trial Attorney Joseph Rillotta prosecuted the case for the United States.

FISHER faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $100,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 9, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH LADUE, a 26-year-old resident of Browning and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. Sentencing has been set for August 14, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On February 3, 2012, Blackfeet Child Protective Services notified the FBI that a twelve-year-old girl ("X.X.") tested positive for pregnancy at the Blackfeet Community Hospital. The school therapist treating X.X. reported to investigators that X.X. spoke about spending time with LADUE.

When questioned, LADUE admitted that he was likely the father of X.X.'s baby.

LADUE faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 8, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, SCOTT LEE HUBENY, a 48-year-old resident of Missoula, was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 5 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $25,200

HUBENY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft of government money.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

HUBENY filed for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration ("SSA") on June 2, 1999. He was awarded monthly disability benefits beginning on January 20, 2000. As a beneficiary of SSA disability, HUBENY agreed to report employment or income changes that could affect his eligibility to receive SSA disability payments. At the time of the investigation in this case, HUBENY was receiving $1,400 per month in disability payments.

On April 4, 2011, the SSA received confidential information that HUBENY owned and operated a medical marijuana grow in Missoula and was growing marijuana both at his house and a rented warehouse. HUBENY became a medical marijuana provider under Montana law in August 2009.

On June 30, 2011, federal and state law enforcement officers searched HUBENY's house and his warehouse. They seized a total of approximately 243 marijuana plants, four pounds and 12 ounces of bulk marijuana, 5.06 ounces of Hashish, and various items of marijuana processing equipment (grow lights, digital scales, etc.).

HUBENY was interviewed the same day as the searches. HUBENY stated that he understood his SSA disability reporting requirements regarding changes in employment or income but denied earning any income in excess of $500 per year from his medical marijuana business. He said that he knew he was required to report his employment to SSA and provided no explanation for not doing so, saying only that he did not think about it because he was losing money.

HUBENY's bank records were reviewed which revealed that HUBENY deposited approximately $37,890 into his bank accounts from January 2010 through April 2011. That figure does not include HUBENY's monthly disability payments. Approximately $9,130 of that money came from 19 checks from Sharrott Creek Farms to HUBENY from January 14, 2010 through July 13, 2010. Sharrott Creek Farms is a business involved in growing and selling medical marijuana. When asked about Sharrott Creek Farms during his interview on June 30, 2011, HUBENY said he received two or three checks from that business for no more than $700 total.

HUBENY knowingly failed to disclose employment and income information to the SSA and, as a result, fraudulently received $25,200 in disability benefit payments between April 2010 and September 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 7, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:

MICHAEL BEARHILL, JR., a 21-year-old resident of Wolf Point, appeared on a charge of robbery. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BEARHILL faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.

SHYANN MARIE DUPREE, a 36-year-old resident of Poplar, appeared on a charge of burglary. She is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, DUPREE faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.

JESUS HERIBERTO RAMIREZ-SOTO, age 44, DON EDWARD LYLE, age 53, and STUART MORGAN PATTIE, age 52, residents of Troy, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. They are currently detained. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 7, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, TAMMY LYNN LAPIE, a 47-year-old resident of Great Falls, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 60 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 4 years

LAPIE was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

During January 2012, law enforcement originally became alerted to a methamphetamine distribution ring from Washington state to Great Falls.

In June 2012, law enforcement learned of an individual, X.X., who made repeated trips from Great Falls to Washington to obtain methamphetamine to re-sell in Great Falls.

On June 29, 2012, a CI (confidential informant) informed the drug task force that X.X. was returning to Great Falls from Washington with methamphetamine. The task force arranged for a controlled drug buy from X.X. near the University of Great Falls. The CI purchased methamphetamine. The CI then continued to make numerous controlled drug buys from X.X. over the next few days.

Law enforcement located X.X.'s car in early July 2012, and the task force tracked this car from Great Falls to Spokane, Washington. The car stayed in Spokane for less than two hours before returning to Great Falls. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the car just outside of Great Falls and they obtained two ounces of methamphetamine. X.X., the driver of the car, told law enforcement he had traveled to Spokane to buy methamphetamine from "Bert." He had been supplied by Bert, who was identified as Robert Boucher, since February or March 2012. In total, X.X. believed he had obtained and distributed approximately ten ounces of methamphetamine that he received from Boucher.

X.X. told law enforcement that Boucher provided him with a GPS system in order for X.X. to find Boucher's house in Spokane. Once X.X. obtained the methamphetamine from Boucher, X.X. would sell the methamphetamine by the gram for $100 around Great Falls. Boucher sold the methamphetamine to X.X. for $1,400 an ounce.

X.X. and Boucher also dealt methamphetamine with LAPIE and another individual, Z.Z., in Great Falls. The methamphetamine dealing continued into the fall of 2012. During the end of October 2012, detectives interviewed additional witnesses. One witness stated that LAPIE was heavily involved in using and dealing methamphetamine. LAPIE obtained her methamphetamine from Boucher, and Boucher delivered methamphetamine to LAPIE approximately once a week.

The witness further provided that Boucher stored the methamphetamine in the hood and trunk of his car. He then divided the methamphetamine between the sellers who obtained the methamphetamine on credit. Boucher stayed in town at LAPIE's house until the money was collected. LAPIE would then repackage the methamphetamine into eight-ball baggies and distribute it to other sellers.

On November 13, 2012, a witness contacted the drug task force and stated Z.Z. was selling methamphetamine. Law enforcement then arranged controlled drug purchases from Z.Z. in Great Falls. The following evening, detectives saw Z.Z. drive to LAPIE's house, where he stayed for a half hour before again returning to his motel room. A little while later, Z.Z. and a woman drove to a gas station. Z.Z. conducted a drug deal in the parking lot. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Z.Z.'s car shortly thereafter.

After ordering Z.Z. out of the car, officers found a glass container of methamphetamine in Z.Z.'s pocket. He spoke with law enforcement and said he had been dealing methamphetamine with LAPIE. Z.Z. regularly purchased two eight balls of methamphetamine per week from LAPIE. Z.Z. also identified Boucher as one of LAPIE's suppliers and said he delivered methamphetamine to LAPIE once per week.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LAPIE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LAPIE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Russell County Drug Task Force.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 7, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, RONALD LEON LEESON, a 53-year-old resident of Great Falls, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 46 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 4 years

LEESON was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

During January 2012, law enforcement originally became alerted to a methamphetamine distribution ring from Washington state to Great Falls.

In June 2012, law enforcement learned of an individual, X.X., who made repeated trips from Great Falls to Washington to obtain methamphetamine to re-sell in Great Falls.

On June 29, 2012, a CI (confidential informant) informed the drug task force that X.X. was returning to Great Falls from Washington with methamphetamine. The task force arranged for a controlled drug buy from X.X. near the University of Great Falls. The CI purchased methamphetamine. The CI then continued to make numerous controlled drug buys from X.X. over the next few days.

Law enforcement located X.X.'s car in early July 2012, and the task force tracked this car from Great Falls to Spokane, Washington. The car stayed in Spokane for less than two hours before returning to Great Falls. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the car just outside of Great Falls and they obtained two ounces of methamphetamine. X.X., the driver of the car, told law enforcement he had traveled to Spokane to buy methamphetamine from "Bert." He had been supplied by Bert, who was identified as Robert Boucher, since February or March 2012. In total, X.X. believed he had obtained and distributed approximately ten ounces of methamphetamine that he received from Boucher.

X.X. told law enforcement that Boucher provided him with a GPS system in order for X.X. to find Boucher's house in Spokane. Once X.X. obtained the methamphetamine from Boucher, X.X. would sell the methamphetamine by the gram for $100 around Great Falls. Boucher sold the methamphetamine to X.X. for $1,400 an ounce.

X.X. and Boucher also dealt methamphetamine with LEESON and Tammy Lapie in Great Falls. The methamphetamine dealing continued into the fall of 2012. During the end of October 2012, detectives interviewed additional witnesses. One witness stated that Lapie was heavily involved in using and dealing methamphetamine. Lapie obtained her methamphetamine from Boucher, and Boucher delivered methamphetamine to Lapie approximately once a week.

The witness further provided that Boucher stored the methamphetamine in the hood and trunk of his car. He then divided the methamphetamine between the sellers who obtained the methamphetamine on credit. Boucher stayed in town at Lapie's house until the money was collected. Lapie would then repackage the methamphetamine into eight-ball baggies and distribute it to other sellers.

On November 13, 2012, a witness contacted the drug task force and stated LEESON was selling methamphetamine. Law enforcement then arranged controlled drug purchases from LEESON in Great Falls. The following evening, detectives saw LEESON drive to Lapie's house, where he stayed for a half hour before again returning to his motel room. A little while later, LEESON and a woman drove to a gas station. LEESON conducted a drug deal in the parking lot. Officers conducted a traffic stop on LEESON's car shortly thereafter.

After ordering LEESON out of the car, officers found a glass container of methamphetamine in LEESON's pocket. He spoke with law enforcement and said he had been dealing methamphetamine with Lapie. LEESON regularly purchased two eight balls of methamphetamine per week from Lapie. LEESON also identified Boucher as one of Lapie's suppliers and said he delivered methamphetamine to Lapie once per week.

From December 2011 until November 2012, LEESON possessed over five grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the methamphetamine to another person.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LEESON will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LEESON does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Russell County Drug Task Force.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 7, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, RODNEY ROYCE MILLER, a 60-year-old resident of Kalispell, pled guilty to accessing with the intent to view child pornography. Sentencing has been set for September 12, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On September 21, 2012, a federal probation officer made contact with MILLER in MILLER's van in Flathead County. The probation officer observed MILLER looking at images of child pornography on his notebook computer.

Detectives from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office subsequently obtained a search warrant for the notebook computer. When interviewed, MILLER admitted he used the computer to view child pornography on the Internet.

When the notebook was forensically examined Image files, which included cache and non-cache files depicting child pornography, were located. The examiner also located cache records which were indicative of a user seeking child pornography.

MILLER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the U.S. Probation, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 6, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, PATRICK NEIL INKSTER, a 31-year-old resident of Calgary, Alberta, appeared for sentencing. INKSTER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: time served (176 days)

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

INKSTER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of a fraudulent resident alien card.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On September 13, 2010, INKSTER presented fraudulent documents as identification to obtain a Montana Identification Card (MIC).

On the application to obtain an MIC, INKSTER listed that he was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and was not a United States Citizen. INKSTER also indicated that he was a Montana resident and provided an address in Great Falls. INKSTER then presented the examiner with a fraudulent United States Resident Alien Card in the name of Richar Savage, as well as a fraudulent Social Security Card also in the name of Savage. The DMV examiner recognized the documents as fraudulent, took copies, and told INKSTER to return when a supervisor was available.

When questioned, INKSTER admitted that he purchased the fraudulent social security card and fake resident alien card. He planned to use them to get a Montana ID card and then use the Montana ID card to purchase firearms.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 7, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:

TONY JAMES BELCOURT, age 41, HAILEY LEE BELCOURT, age 35, JOHN CHANCE HOULE, age 47, residents of Box Elder, and MARK T. LEISCHNER, age 46, and TAMMY KAY LEISCHNER, age 42, residents of Laurel, each appeared on charges of:

Count I: Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

Penalty: Five years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Counts II-VI: Scheme to Defraud the United States and the Chippewa Cree Tribe/ Wire Fraud

Penalty: 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count VII: Theft of Federal Monies

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count VIII: Theft from an Indian Tribal Government Receiving Federal Funding

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Count IX: RECEIPT OF STOLEN MONEY IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

Counts X-XVII: Money Laundering

Penalty: Ten years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release)

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges and are currently released on special conditions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Inspector General, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It would be inappropriate to comment on the facts of this case at this stage of the proceedings. The judicial system will sort out the truth of the allegations and all defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence. However, today's indictment is the product of diligent work by the very dedicated agents of the Guardians Project. As the work of this team of skilled and highly trained professionals from the Offices of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation goes forward, the people of Montana can expect more cases - from every part of the state - outlined in lengthy, multi-defendant indictments alleging public corruption and embezzlement of federal funds. Their investigations address chronic and systemic financial assaults on federal grants and contracts. This office is committed to their mission." United States Attorney for the District of Montana, Michael W. Cotter.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 6, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individual was arraigned:

TONY RAY MANYGUNS, a 36 year-old resident of Browning, appeared on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and domestic assault by a habitual offender. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, MANYGUNS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 6, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:

ZACHARY LEE BLASEG, a 36-year-old resident of Livingston, appeared on a charge of receipt of child pornography. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BLASEG faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ole Olson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on May 1, 2013, in Helena, after a federal district court trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, JOSHUA EMIL RUNION, a 41-year-old resident of Oregon, was found guilty of counterfeiting U.S. currency. Sentencing is set for September 12, 2013. He is currently detained.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan R. Whittaker and Zeno B. Baucus prosecuted the case for the United States.

RUNION faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on May 2, 2013, in Missoula, after a federal district court trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, CURTIS KEITH TICHENOR, a 52-year-old resident of Helena, was found guilty of robbery, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is set for August 7, 2013. He is currently detained.

At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.

On the morning of July 14, 2012, TICHENOR robbed the Silver Dollar Bar in Missoula. He entered the bar wearing a blue coat and a mask. He pointed a handgun at the bartender and demanded all of the money from the till. The bartender complied with TICHENOR's demand and gave him approximately $4,775.

TICHENOR left the bar and got into his blue Camaro, which was parked in an alley to the Southwest of the Silver Dollar. His girlfriend was a passenger in the car and TICHENOR told her he had just committed a robbery. He threw the gun, mask, and money into her lap. TICHENOR left Missoula by way of the Orange Street on-ramp and drove west toward Spokane on Interstate 90. Several miles outside of Missoula, he pulled over and hid the coat and mask under some bushes alongside the road.

After he hid the coat and mask, TICHENOR and his girlfriend traveled to Spokane, where they stayed for a few days. TICHENOR used money from the robbery to buy methamphetamine and heroin, which both he and his girlfriend used while they stayed at a hotel in Spokane. After spending a few days in Spokane, TICHENOR and his girlfriend returned to Helena, where both of them lived at that time.

When he got back to Helena, TICHENOR hid the remaining robbery proceeds at his brother's residence. After TICHENOR got arrested in Helena on July 23, 2012, he asked his brother to retrieve the money, give some to his girlfriend, and put some on his books at the Helena jail.

On July 23, 2012, TICHENOR and his girlfriend were arrested outside a hotel in Helena. TICHENOR was in possession of a firearm, which witnesses identified as the same gun used during the robbery of the Silver Dollar Bar nine days earlier.

In late October 2012, information on TICHENOR was provided information to law enforcement officers about the robbery in Missoula. Based on that information, the officers were able to find the coat and mask that TICHENOR had hidden after the robbery along I-90 west of Missoula. The bartender from the Silver Dollar Bar identified the coat and mask as the items worn by the perpetrator of the robbery. The bartender also identified the gun seized from TICHENOR following his arrest in Helena on July 23, 2012, as the gun used during the robbery. The firearm was a entury Arms, model P-64, 9 mm handgun.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case for the United States.

TICHENOR faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release on the robbery count; a mandatory minimum of 7 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years supervision consecutive to other sentences on other counts for the possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence count; and 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release on the felon in possession of a firearm count.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Missoula Police Department, the Helena Police Department, the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 2, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, TYLER LEVI SMITH, a 31-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. SMITH was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 57 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

SMITH was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to being a felon-in-possession of a firearm.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia K. Hurd and Mark S. Smith, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In 2004, SMITH was convicted of felony drug offenses and as a result he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

On March 8, 2012, SMITH was found passed out in a car parked in a parking lot in Billings. The car was running and SMITH was passed out in the back seat with vomit on him with his head resting on a case of beer. On the front passenger floor board in plain view was a silver semi automatic pistol. Law enforcement was unable to rouse SMITH and had to use a tool to open the door. After they opened the door and woke SMITH, they found out that he was on probation and contacted his state probation officer. SMITH was arrested for DUI and found to have a BAC of .139. The pistol, a Bryco Arms model Jennings Nine 9mm, and two magazines and ammunition were seized. The gun belonged to SMITH's cousin.

The cousin had earlier text discussions with SMITH about SMITH purchasing the gun from him. The cousin had a party at his residence on the evening of March 7 and into the early morning hours of March 8 and SMITH was at the party. The cousin was showing the gun around and then put it in a drawer in his kitchen while SMITH was watching. The next day, the cousin found that the gun and the magazines were missing.

When questioned, SMITH claimed that he didn't know how the gun got in his car.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SMITH will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SMITH does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, JASON WASHINGTON, a 29-year-old resident of Missoula, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 24 months

Special Assessment: $200

Forfeiture: $232,890.58

Supervised Release: 4 years

WASHINGTON was sentenced after a federal district court trial in which he was found guilty of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case for the United States.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that he will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, he does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on April 30, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, YVONNE OWENS-MORRIS, a 48-year-old resident of Hungry Horse, pled guilty to theft of government money. Sentencing has been set for August 18, 2013. She is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad C. Spraker, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On May 8, 2008, OWENS-MORRIS applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits in Kalispell. During the application, OWENS-MORRIS was asked whether she had sold, transferred title, disposed of or given away any money or other property in the past three years. OWENS-MORRIS was also asked about any income she received or expected to receive beginning April 2008.

According to her application, OWENS-MORRIS received $300 a month from her sister from April 2008 to May 2008 and $300 a month on a continuing basis from her parents. Aside from food stamps, two vehicles valued together at $4,500, and a bank account containing $100, OWENS-MORRIS indicated that she had no other financial resources. OWENS-MORRIS declared under penalty of perjury that the information she provided was true.

SSA conducted eligibility reviews with OWENS-MORRIS on September 21, 2009; October 26, 2009; and December 8, 2009. On each occasion OWENS-MORRIS reported owning assets valued at less than $9,000 and monthly income of $600 or less.

OWENS-MORRIS in fact owned assets and received income that made her ineligible to receive SSI. A year prior to applying for SSI, on May 11, 2007, OWENS-MORRIS deeded to her sister a property in Kalispell known as the Dumas Walker Cowboy Bar. Her sister later signed a power of attorney permitting OWENS-MORRIS to make real estate transactions concerning the property, and on January 14, 2008, OWENS-MORRIS, acting under the power of attorney, sold the property for $200,000. From January 2008 to June 2008, her sister sent OWENS-MORRIS approximately $87,000.

On March 22, 2008, OWENS-MORRIS fell and suffered a back injury on her mother-in-law's property. OWENS-MORRIS settled with her mother-in-law's home owner's insurance. On July 22, 2008, she received a $101,000 check.

From July 2008 to June 2009, OWENS-MORRIS held a UBS investment account. In July 2008, the account held a total of $2,666.

On October 18, 2008, OWENS-MORRIS's mother died. On April 16, 2009, OWENS-MORRIS, as her mother's court appointed representative, deeded a property in Refugio, Texas from her mother to herself and her father. County tax records value the property at $47,170.

In total OWENS-MORRIS received $24,622.04 in SSI benefits to which she was not entitled. Under an agreement between SSA and the State of Montana, whenever an applicant qualifies for SSI, that applicant is also eligible to receive Medicaid benefits. From April 2008 and continuing into 2011, Montana Medicaid paid out in excess of $40,000 in benefits to OWENS-MORRIS's medical providers to which OWENS-MORRIS was not entitled.

OWENS-MORRIS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on May 1, 2013, in Great Falls, at a federal district court trial before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, the following individuals were charged with the following counts:

Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Fraud

Count II: Investment Fraud and Wire Fraud

Count III: Investment Fraud and Wire Fraud

After a 7-day jury trial, STEVEN WILLIAM CARPENTER, age 56, SUZETTE GULYAS GAL, age 55, and ANDRAS ZOLTAN GAL, age 22, residents of California, were found guilty of Counts 1, 2, and 3.

KRISTIAN ZOLTAN GEORGE GAL, age 29, a resident of California, was found guilty of Count I.

Sentencing is set for August 19, 2013. They are currently detained.

At trial, the following evidence and testimony was presented to the jury.

The above-named defendants worked together to solicit funds from the elderly, the infirm, and the gullible by persuading these individuals to invest in fraudulent and fictitious oil and gas investment opportunities on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

While the defendants initially obtained legitimate oil and gas leases on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, those rights were terminated on October 5, 2007, for failure to make the required lease payments. Moreover, the defendants never made any legitimate payment to establish or further an oil or gas venture on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Despite all of the above, the defendants bilked investors into paying well in excess of half a million dollars in a non-existent venture. The case involved over fifty victims, most of whom struggled to make ends meet even before losing money to the fraud. All while the victims suffered, the defendants enjoyed a life of luxury, took extravagant vacations, and basked in the fruits of their fraud.

Today's jury verdict, convicting Steven Carpenter, Suzette Gal, Andras Gal and Kristian Gal, together with the earlier guilty plea of the ring-leader, Mike Campa, represents a significant blow to the loose organization of professional telemarketers who prey every day on the country's elderly, desperate, and gullible. Too many of the operations go undetected and unhindered. The only way to stem the tide is for these predators to know --- without question --- that when they are caught the consequences will be significant. The United States Attorney's Office will continue every effort and enlist every resource to identify and prosecute those who enrich themselves by defrauding others. This investigation, which involved hundreds of man hours of undercover operations, surveillance, forensic document examination, and witness interviews, was a near perfect cooperative effort between the FBI and the Department of Interior's Office of Inspector General. Rarely do we see such seamless and effective coordination of agency efforts. I want to commend the excellent work done by our trial lawyers, AUSAs Carl Rostad and Ryan Weldon who tried the case on behalf of the United States, and investigators who conducted an extraordinary investigation."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl E. Rostad and Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case for the United States.

They face possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release for the conspiracy to commit fraud charge, and 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release for each of the wire fraud and mail fraud charges.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Inspector General.

Hospitals Allegedly Compensated Physicians for Improper Referrals

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that St. Vincent Healthcare, a hospital located in Billings, Montana, and Holy Rosary Healthcare, a hospital located in Miles City, Montana, have agreed to pay $3,950,000 plus interest to resolve allegations that they violated the Stark Law and the False Claims Act by improperly providing incentive pay to physicians that made referrals to the hospitals, the Justice Department announced today. The Stark Law forbids a hospital from billing Medicare for certain services referred by physicians who have a financial relationship with the hospital unless that relationship falls within certain exceptions. A prohibited financial relationship includes a hospital's agreement to compensate a physician in a manner that takes into account the volume of the physician's referrals or the revenue realized through those referrals.

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that the hospitals paid several physicians incentive compensation that took into account the value or volume of their referrals by improperly including certain designated health services in the formula for calculating physician incentive compensation. These issues were disclosed by the hospitals to the government.

The resolution of this matter underscores our commitment to ensure that services reimbursable by federal health care programs are based on the best interests of patients rather than the personal financial interests of referring physicians," said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department's Civil Division.

Combating health care fraud is a top priority of the Department of Justice and the Montana U.S. Attorney's Office. St. Vincent Healthcare and Holy Rosary Healthcare allegedly put their financial interest ahead of their responsibility to provide cost effective health care. The United States recovered $3,950,000 of taxpayers' dollars from the hospitals. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is committed to enforcing the Stark Law and False Claims Act, as well as other health care laws and regulations against wrongdoers. This case also demonstrates how the Department of Justice will work with those health care providers who disclose their misconduct," said Michael W. Cotter, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana.

There is an expectation that corporations providing services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries adhere to the provision of the Stark Law. I applaud St. Vincent Healthcare and Holy Rosary Healthcare for recognizing their potential liability in this matter and making a disclosure," said Gerry Roy, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services region including Montana. "Working closely with our partners at the Department of Justice, we will vigilantly protect federal health care programs against violations of the Stark Law."

This resolution is part of the government's emphasis on combating health care fraud and another step for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced by Attorney General Eric Holder and Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in May 2009. The partnership between the two departments has focused on efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover $10.3 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department's total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 are over $14.2 billion.

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Shin with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana, the Department of Justice's Civil Division, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MARK JAMES DENNY, a 33-year-old resident of Hardin, appeared for sentencing. DENNY was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 5 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $73,045.81

DENNY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft from an organization receiving federal funding.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office (CTHPO) on the Crow Indian Reservation was created in 2005. The CTHPO is a designated office of the Crow Indian Tribe that provides for direct Tribal involvement and leadership in the protection and enhancement of Crow lands and cultural resources. It serves to identify, inventory, and protect culturally, archeologically, and historically important resources both on and off the reservation.

Each year, the CTHPO receives grant funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A requirement for any enterprise seeking to do work on the reservation that may disturb tribal lands - utilities, construction, energy exploration, development - is that the business employ the services of a CTHPO employee (archeological technician) to monitor the project to insure that lands of cultural or historic importance are not destroyed. The company is then charged for this monitoring service and payments are made to the Crow Tribe.

The Director of the CTHPO from approximately 2005 until November 15, 2011 is identified here as X.X. During the time X.X. was Director, most of the monitors were his family members. Two other monitors were not hired as Crow Tribe employees but were assigned as project monitors and received payment directly from the companies. DENNY was also an employee of the CTHPO.

Sometime in the summer of 2009, X.X. approached the Vice-Chairman of the Tribe and tried to get the process changed so that the companies could make direct payments to the monitors. When he was told he couldn't do that, he indicated he would take the matter up with the Chairman. The Chairman was never approached and did not provide any approval for X.X.'s request.

Even though his request was denied, X.X. began advising companies that payments would now be made directly to the tribal monitors assigned to the project. At first, in the summer of 2009, few direct payments were arranged. However, in the summer of 2010, the CTHPO staff person who insured that companies were properly billed and that CTHPO payments went to the Tribe left the office, and direct billing - having companies pay monitors personally instead of remitting the fee to the Crow Tribe - became much more prevalent.

From July 2009 to November 2011, a total of over $500,000 in monitoring service payments from the companies doing business on the Crow Reservation were diverted to the personal use and benefit of the employees of the CTHPO and the two non-employees assigned to projects as monitors. X.X. did not serve as a monitor in the field.

In the Summer of 2011 - from June to August - DENNY was assigned as a monitor to the Sarpy Creek project, which was the Westmoreland Resources expansion of the Absaloka Coal Mine in the Powder River Basin. DENNY's assignment was to monitor the progress of the project to insure that no culturally, archeologically, or historically important sites were disturbed.

A Westmoreland sub-contractor, GCM Services, went forward with an extensive excavation of the site with the approval of X.X., who as Director of the CTHPO had assigned several others and DENNY as project monitors. As a result of the approved site plan, a 2,000-year-old bison kill site was unearthed in 2011 with heavy equipment, causing significant, irreparable damage to the site. The largest bison bone bed was estimated to cover almost 3,000 square meters and contained the remains of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of butchered bison remains and prehistoric spear points dating back to the Late Archaic period.

When interviewed, DENNY admitted that he knew that he took direct payments while a tribal employee and that it was wrong to be paid by the Tribe and the companies for the same work. He admitted that the time sheets he submitted to the Tribe and the invoices he submitted to the companies were false and fraudulent because they were inflated and represented demands for payment for hours not worked. According to a GCM Services company representative, "the monitors often did not show up, and, if they did, they often only The investigation was conducted by a team of agents and auditors working with the U.S. Attorney's Guardians Project, including the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Interior, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, LARKIN TROY CHANDLER, a 46-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared for sentencing. CHANDLER was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 5 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $44,546.50

CHANDLER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft from an organization receiving federal funding.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office (CTHPO) on the Crow Indian Reservation was created in 2005. The CTHPO is a designated office of the Crow Indian Tribe that provides for direct Tribal involvement and leadership in the protection and enhancement of Crow lands and cultural resources. It serves to identify, inventory, and protect culturally, archeologically, and historically important resources both on and off the reservation.

Each year, the CTHPO receives grant funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A requirement for any enterprise seeking to do work on the reservation that may disturb tribal lands - utilities, construction, energy exploration, development - is that the business employ the services of a CTHPO employee (archeological technician) to monitor the project to insure that lands of cultural or historic importance are not destroyed. The company is then charged for this monitoring service and payments are made to the Crow Tribe.

The Director of the CTHPO from approximately 2005 until November 15, 2011 is identified here as X.X. During the time X.X. was Director, most of the monitors were his family members. Two other monitors were not hired as Crow Tribe employees but were assigned as project monitors and received payment directly from the companies. CHANDLER was also an employee of the CTHPO.

Sometime in the summer of 2009, X.X. approached the Vice-Chairman of the Tribe and tried to get the process changed so that the companies could make direct payments to the monitors. When he was told he couldn't do that, he indicated he would take the matter up with the Chairman. The Chairman was never approached and did not provide any approval for X.X.'s request.

Even though his request was denied, X.X. began advising companies that payments would now be made directly to the tribal monitors assigned to the project. At first, in the summer of 2009, few direct payments were arranged. However, in the summer of 2010, the CTHPO staff person who insured that companies were properly billed and that CTHPO payments went to the Tribe left the office, and direct billing - having companies pay monitors personally instead of remitting the fee to the Crow Tribe - became much more prevalent.

From July 2009 to November 2011, a total of over $500,000 in monitoring service payments from the companies doing business on the Crow Reservation were diverted to the personal use and benefit of the employees of the CTHPO, including CHANDLER, and the two non-employees assigned to projects as monitors. X.X. did not serve as a monitor in the field. According to a GCM Services company representative, "the monitors often did not show up, and, if they did, they often only worked one to three hours."

When interviewed, CHANDLER confirmed that he had been a tribal employee being paid on a per hour basis for his services as a monitor. He also confirmed that he billed the companies directly, at the direction of X.X., for performing the services for which he was already being compensated by the Tribe.

The investigation was conducted by a team of agents and auditors working with the U.S. Attorney's Guardians Project, including the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Interior, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, JOHN PAUL SIGL, age 50, pled guilty to threats against the President. Sentencing has been set for August 7, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 24, 2012, the U.S. Secret Service in Billings received a telephone call from the Billings Police Department about a threat against the President of the United States Barack Obama. The Billings Police Department reported that on April 19, 2012, the 911 call center received a threat against President Obama. The caller's name, making the threat, was John Paul Sigl.

On the same date the threat was called into the 911 call center, SIGL was involuntarily committed to the psychiatric unit of the Billings Clinic and had to be restrained due to physical confrontation and threats of death to the clinic staff.

On April 24, 2012, a U.S. Secret Service agent interviewed SIGL. Of significance were the following statements made by SIGL during the interview: a) SIGL stated his second wife died in 2009. SIGL expressed that be believed that the medication she received for her illness had grave side effects and resulted in her death. SIGL believes that the doctors who treated his deceased wife killed her and he views this as the ultimate injustice and feels he no longer has anything to live for and is motivated by justice being served on those he views as responsible; b) During the same interview SIGL stated no less than 20 times that "the politicians and the President" are responsible for allowing the doctors to kill his wife and they must die. SIGL stated that he needed to be "locked up for a very long time" because if he were to be released he "promised" he would find a way to kill those previously mentioned. SIGL iterated several times he should be taken seriously; c) SIGL stated he was not afraid of the consequences in attempting his purposes. SIGL told the Secret Service Agent several times that he would rather die than continue to live with his perceived injustice and that he would end up dead, imprisoned, or succeeding in his desire to kill those previously stated; d) SIGL stated he no longer has anything to live for as a result of his wife's death in 2009.

SIGL stated later in the same interview, when asked about weapons he may have access to, that he "knows how the streets work," and can get anything he wants "to get the job done." SIGL also stated, "You better take me serious," and "I promise you, if I get out of here, I will find a way to kill the President." SIGL's intent was clearly to harm or kill President Barak Obama.

On April 27, 2012, SIGL was admitted into Warm Springs State Hospital, was again involuntarily committed and had to be restrained due to physical confrontation and threats of death to the hospital staff.

On May 4, 2012, SIGL was again interviewed by law enforcement. SIGL continued to state that if released he intended to kill the President of the United States and anyone else he blamed for his wife's death. SIGL said, "I'll kill them all, the President, the doctors, the politicians. I can't live life like this." SIGL responded to law enforcement by saying that he was serious about his threats of death.

Interviews with SIGL's mental health providers confirmed that he was unstable with violent tendencies. The Secret Service agent that heard SIGL's repeated threats believed SIGL's intention was to harm the President of the United States.

SIGL faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, FREDERICK PAUL DEPUTEE, JR., a 25-year-old resident of Hardin and an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, appeared for sentencing. DEPUTEE was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 5 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $6,130

DEPUTEE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft from an Indian organization.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Crow Tribal Historic Preservation Office (CTHPO) on the Crow Indian Reservation was created in 2005. The CTHPO is a designated office of the Crow Indian Tribe that provides for direct Tribal involvement and leadership in the protection and enhancement of Crow lands and cultural resources. It serves to identify, inventory, and protect culturally, archeologically, and historically important resources both on and off the reservation.

Each year, the CTHPO receives grant funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. A requirement for any enterprise seeking to do work on the reservation that may disturb tribal lands - utilities, construction, energy exploration, development - is that the business employ the services of a CTHPO employee (archeological technician) to monitor the project to insure that lands of cultural or historic importance are not destroyed. The company is then charged for this monitoring service and payments are made to the Crow Tribe.

The Director of the CTHPO from approximately 2005 until November 15, 2011 is identified here as X.X. During the time X.X. was Director, most of the monitors were his family members. Two other monitors, one of which was DEPUTEE, were not hired as Crow Tribe employees but were assigned as project monitors and received payment directly from the companies.

Sometime in the summer of 2009, X.X. approached the Vice-Chairman of the Tribe and tried to get the process changed so that the companies could make direct payments to the monitors. When he was told he couldn't do that, he indicated he would take the matter up with the Chairman. The Chairman was never approached and did not provide any approval for X.X.'s request.

Even though his request was denied, X.X. began advising companies that payments would now be made directly to the tribal monitors assigned to the project. At first, in the summer of 2009, few direct payments were arranged. However, in the summer of 2010, the CTHPO staff person who insured that companies were properly billed and that CTHPO payments went to the Tribe left the office, and direct billing - having companies pay monitors personally instead of remitting the fee to the Crow Tribe - became much more prevalent.

From July 2009 to November 2011, a total of over $500,000 in monitoring service payments from the companies doing business on the Crow Reservation were diverted to the personal use and benefit of the employees of the CTHPO and the two non-employees - one of which was DEPUTEE - assigned to projects as a monitor.

In the Summer of 2011 - from June to August - DEPUTEE was assigned as a monitor to the Sarpy Creek project, which was the Westmoreland Resources expansion of the Absaloka Coal Mine in the Powder River Basin. DEPUTEE's assignment was to monitor the progress of the project to insure that no culturally, archeologically, or historically important sites were disturbed.

A Westmoreland sub-contractor, GCM Services, went forward with an extensive excavation of the site with the approval of X.X., who, as Director of the CTHPO, had assigned DEPUTEE and others as project monitors. As a result of the approved site plan, a 2,000-year-old bison kill site was unearthed in 2011 with heavy equipment, causing significant, irreparable damage to the site. The largest bison bone bed was estimated to cover almost 3,000 square meters and contained the remains of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of butchered bison remains and prehistoric spear points dating back to the Late Archaic period.

When interviewed, DEPUTEE maintained that he was authorized by his aunt to work as a monitor on the site and denied knowing that the money paid by the companies were tribal fees which should have been deposited with the tribal government. His aunt had no supervisory role at the CTHPO. DEPUTEE was convinced - based on the assurances given to him by his aunt - that he could act, and was participating in the CTHPO activities, as an independent contractor role and also received payment directly from GCM. He admitted, however, that he did not work the hours for which he billed the company and acknowledged the wrongfulness of billing for hours not worked. According to a GCM Services company representative, "the monitors often did not show up, and, if they did, they often only worked one to three hours."

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that DEPUTEE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, DEPUTEE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by a team of agents and auditors working with the U.S. Attorney's Guardians Project, including the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Interior, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, DELBERT DEAN SPEAR, a 25-year-old resident of Crow Agency and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing has been set for August 7, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On October 6, 2012, law enforcement responded to the scene of a stabbing outside of Crow Agency, within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation. An adult male victim had been stabbed approximately seven times in the torso with a knife. The victim was life-flighted to Billings for medical care.

The victim reported that he and a group of people, including SPEAR, were drinking and driving together until the car ran out of gas. Everyone continued drinking until, at some point, the victim and SPEAR started arguing. Both got out of the car, and then SPEAR came at the victim with a knife as he stood beside the car. SPEAR stabbed him multiple times in the chest area until he stumbled and fell. SPEAR then stabbed him in the back area. After the stabbing, the victim walked to a house where he received help.

When questioned, SPEAR admitted that he stabbed the victim and, in a handwritten statement, wrote that he stabbed the victim seven times.

The victim suffered two stab wounds to the right lower chest that deflated his lung and hit his liver, four stab wounds to his right shoulder area, and one stab wound to his right triceps area.

SPEAR faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 1, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, DAVID RUSSELL HARGROVE, a 33-year-old resident of Livingston, pled guilty to possession of child pornography. Sentencing has been set for August 7, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Between approximately 2010 and December 2011, in Livingston, HARGROVE possessed computer files containing images of child pornography.

After executing a search warrant at HARGROVE's residence, law enforcement analyzed his computer and located and identified child pornography images and videos. HARGROVE admitted to using the peer-to-peer file sharing program Limewire and searching for terms such as "father/daughter." He admitted to knowing some images were child pornography. The images involved prepubescent minors engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct. During the analysis of HARGROVE's computer, law enforcement also located child pornography in a separate folder on the desktop.

HARGROVE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 30, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JAMES MATTHEW TAFELMEYER, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. TAFELMEYER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 97 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 15 years

TAFELMEYER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to receipt of child pornography.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Law enforcement officers were investigating allegations of child pornography access by users utilizing the peer-to-peer file sharing network. One investigation involved a person in Billings who had child pornography available to share via a file sharing program. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and served on December 1, 2011.

TAFELMEYER was the occupant of the residence. When questioned, TAFELMEYER admitted that he used the peer-to-peer file sharing program Limewire to receive and possess hundreds of child pornography videos and images. He detailed the search terms he used to find child pornography on Limewire and how he had saved it to various computers and other equipment, and how he had been doing so since 2004.

Agents seized various computer equipment at TAFELMEYER's residence. Subsequent forensic examination revealed hundreds of images and movies of child pornography that TAFELMEYER had received via the Internet for years and continuing until the equipment was seized. TAFELMEYER possessed images and movies of children clearly prepubescent and children engaged in sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence. TAFELMEYER possessed a total of over 2,000 images and 24 videos of child pornography on the equipment specified in the forfeiture count.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that TAFELMEYER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, TAFELMEYER does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Billings Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources."

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on April 25, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, SETH PATRICK DURNAM, a resident of Bozeman, pled guilty to possession of child pornography. Sentencing has been set for July 25, 2013. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On November 8, 2010, DURNAM was at a residence in Bozeman for a job interview.

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, the homeowner found a 2GB SD card in his driveway. The homeowner called his father who had visited earlier in the day to inquire if the card was his. His father replied that it was not and suggested that he view the images on the card to identify the owner. He did so and found hundreds of images of child pornography, that he described as "naked, under-age boys." When scrolling through the images, the homeowner found a picture of DURNAM, whom he recognized from the earlier job interview. The homeowner contacted law enforcement and turned over the card.

When interviewed by a detective the next day, DURNAM admitted that he "did like images of younger boys" but claimed it was earlier in his life. When the SD card was examined, approximately 300 sexually explicit images and 5 movies of nude prepubescent and early teen boys were found on the card. The images had been copied to the SD card on April 21, 2010, by means of another device. There were also several pictures of DURNAM on the card.

DURNAM possessed images and movies of children clearly prepubescent and children engaged in sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence.

DURNAM faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on April 25, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:

WILLIAM FREDERICK SCHROEDER, a 31-year-old resident of Helena, appeared on charges of coercion and enticement and receipt of child pornography. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, SCHROEDER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ole Olson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Helena Police Department.

FELIPE JESUS PARRA-FLORES, a 46-year-old resident of Nampa, Idaho, appeared on charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, PARRA-FLORES faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 25, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, TYRONE THADDEUS MARTINEZ, a 33-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. MARTINEZ was sentenced to a term of:

Probation: 4 years

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $10,293

MARTINEZ was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to wire fraud.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

MARTINEZ was employed by Hardrive Asphalt, in Billings from the end of April 2011 through August 22, 2011. MARTINEZ was fired on August 22, 2011. Each of the fleet vehicles for Hardrive is equipped with a Wright Express gas card. Each employee who is authorized to use a gas card is issued a 4-digit PIN that enables the use of the gas cards attached to each Hardrive vehicle. MARTINEZ, employed as a laborer, was not authorized a gas card or a pin.

During the summer of 2011, Hardrive had one truck that was inoperable and sat in the company's yard. This particular vehicle had two gas cards. One gas card was for bulk fuel and one card was a regular gas card. The yard was locked at night, but was open during operating hours and any employee would have had access to the vehicle and its contents.

Hardrive runs gas charge totals on a monthly basis. Prior to Hardrive running its September 2011 totals, Wright Express telephoned Hardrive to voice concern for unusual gas charges. It was determined that $10,293 in charges were fraudulently charged to Hardrive's account. The fraudulent charges were incurred over short durations of time during single day periods. The first two charges were in Billings on August 20, 2011, and August 21, 2011, the two day period prior to MARTINEZ being fired from Hardrive. In total over 160 fraudulent charges were incurred in various locations, for various amounts, including Billings; Big Timber; Gillette, Wyoming; Post Falls, Idaho; Spokane, Washington; and Seattle, Washington.

All of the fraudulent gas transactions used PIN 7524 that was assigned to Hardrive employee X.X. X.X. was working on a job site for Hardrive in Wyoming during the time the fraudulent charges were incurred. Questioning by Hardrive management uncovered that X.X. had previously provided MARTINEZ with his PIN when the two worked together prior to the fraud taking place.

Law enforcement was able to obtain numerous pieces of video footage from the gas stations where the card and PIN were used. Law enforcement was able to visually identify MARTINEZ in several of the videos. Law enforcement was also able to identify MARTINEZ's vehicle in several of the videos. Additionally, MARTINEZ used an Albertsons' gas station at one point to fill up his vehicle. Albertsons was able to confirm that MARTINEZ's Albertsons' savings card was used for the gasoline purchases made with the stolen card and the PIN.

Law enforcement interviewed MARTINEZ about the allegations from Hardrive. MARTINEZ admitted he took a gas card from one of the company vehicles. MARTINEZ stated that the PIN needed to use the card was common knowledge to most employees. MARTINEZ admitted to using the gas card in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington. MARTINEZ said that he was sorry for his actions.

In total, MARTINEZ stole $10,293 in fuel from Hardrive Asphalt through his gas card scheme.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MARTINEZ will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MARTINEZ does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 25, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MARTIN LEE ROMAN NOSE, a 23-year-old resident of Ashland and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. A sentencing date will be set at a later time. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On October 27, 2011, ROMAN NOSE and his girlfriend came across the 15-year-old victim and took her to their apartment. All three were drinking during the walk to the apartment and at the apartment. At some point, ROMAN NOSE and his girlfriend started to fight. ROMAN NOSE eventually locked her out of the apartment.

ROMAN NOSE and the victim were left alone in the apartment. ROMAN NOSE followed the victim into a bedroom, drank with her, and then sexually abused her.

ROMAN NOSE was interviewed twice. He initially denied sexually abusing the victim. However later he admitted that he did, but recanted again saying that he only made the admission because he believed it was what the agents wanted him to say.

ROMAN NOSE faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 25, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ELROY JAY WEASELBEAR, SR., a 39-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, appeared for sentencing. WEASELBEAR was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 135 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 10 years

WEASELBEAR was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to incest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case for the government.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that WEASELBEAR will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, WEASELBEAR does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.