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  • From the Courts: Threats to murder U.S. Sen. Jon Tester send Billings man to prison for 30 months

    Updated May 9, 2024

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana BILLINGS - A Billings man who admitted to threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in voicemail messages was sentenced May 1 to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The defendant, Anthony James Cross, 30, pleaded guilty in January to threats to injure and murder a United States Senator. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court accepted a...

  • From the Courts: Hays man convicted of sexually abusing minor girl sentenced to three years in prison

    Updated May 9, 2024

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A Hays man convicted by a federal jury of sexually abusing a minor girl on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced on May 1 to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Following a three-day trial, the jury Oct. 5, 2023 found Daniel Jacob Werk, 38, guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, as charged in an indictment. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court d...

  • Gonsalez sentenced to more than six years for sexually abusing teen

    U.S. Attorney's Office District of Montana|Updated May 9, 2024

    GREAT FALLS - Jonathan Ray Gonsalez, 40, was sentenced Wednesday to six years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for sexually abusing a teenage girl he lured through social media to his isolated home on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Gonsalez, 40, pleaded guilty in January to sexual abuse. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that Jan. 3,...

  • From the Courts - District Court: Man pleads guilty in state court in Havre to incest, sexual abuse of children

    Updated Apr 18, 2024

    HELENA — A Hill County man pleaded guilty Monday in Hill County District Court to one count of incest and one count of sexual abuse of children, Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Wednesday. William Ramirez, 41, admitted to law enforcement in December 2021 that he was sending sexually explicit messages and photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl who lived out-of-state. During the investigation, officers also discovered that Ramirez was inappropriately touching the girl around 2018 and 2019 before she eventually moved out o...

  • From the Courts: Man receives 18 months in prison for charge stemming from vehicle crash

    Updated Mar 14, 2024

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — Marvin James Cole, 28, who admitted to an assault charge stemming from a vehicle crash on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in which his truck hit another vehicle, seriously injuring the other driver, was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. M...

  • From the Courts - District Court: Man sent to prison for meth, fentanyl trafficking in Havre, Billings

    Updated Feb 1, 2024

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A Minnesota man convicted by a federal jury for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in Havre and Billings in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a 2 ½ day trial in September 2023, a jury found Rembrandt Carlos Kemp of Fridley, Minnesota, 33, guilty of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with...

  • From the Courts - District Court: Two people sentenced for intimidation after assault and attempted theft from Fort Belknap Indian Reservation store

    Updated Jan 26, 2024

    Press Release GREAT FALLS — A man and a woman who admitted to intimidation charges after they attempted to steal from a store on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation were sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Dustin Alan Robbins, 38, and Nicole Lynn Hicks, 37, both transients, pleaded guilty to intimidation in August 2023. Robbins was sentenced to one year in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Hicks was sentenced to time served of 262 days, to be followed by two years of supervised releas...

  • From the Courts - U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana: Man admits to sexually abusing teen on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

    Updated Jan 10, 2024

    GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man admitted Tuesday to sexually abusing a teenage girl he had contacted through social media and convinced to come to his home on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jonathan Ray Gonsalez, 39, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse. Gonsalez faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to life of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sen...

  • From the Courts - U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana: Man admits making threat to blow up Dodson school

    Updated Jan 10, 2024

    GREAT FALLS — A man accused of making threats to blow up the Dodson school admitted Monday to a hoax crime, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Jacob Edwin Wilson, a transient, pleaded guilty to false information and hoaxes as charged in an indictment. Wilson faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory f...

  • Doney sentenced to 18 months in prison for drive-by shooting

    Updated Nov 20, 2023

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted to shooting into an occupied house in Fort Belknap Agency on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced last week to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Tyree Daniel Doney, 22, pleaded guilty in June to assault with a dangerous weapon. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $3,900 restitution. In court documents, the government a...

  • Man sentenced to 22 months in prison for assaulting partner

    Updated Oct 13, 2023

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted to assaulting a woman on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 22 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Titus Lee Pedraza, 40, pleaded guilty in May to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a spouse, intimate or dating partner. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on November 23, 2022, Ped...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Man sent to prison on assault and strangling charge

    Updated Sep 15, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — Alex George Deserly, 43, was sentenced Thursday after admitting to an assault charge for strangling a woman on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris sentenced Deserly to 30 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner in April 2023. The government alleged in court docum...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Minnesota man convicted of Havre, Billings meth, fentanyl charges

    Updated Sep 14, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A federal jury convicted a Minnesota man Wednesday of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in Havre and Billings in 2021, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a 2½ day trial that began on September 11, the jury found Rembrandt Carlos Kemp of Fridley, Minnesota, 32, guilty of conspiracy to distribute or to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as charged in an indictment. Kemp...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Two plead in intimidation case on Fort Belknap

    Updated Aug 31, 2023

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A man and a woman who had been excluded from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted charges Wednesday after they were accused of stealing from a store and assaulting a store employee, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. Dustin Alan Robbins, 38, and Nicole Lynn Hicks, 37, both transients, pleaded guilty to intimidation. The defendants face a maximum of 10 years in prison a $50,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris pre...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Kalispell man sentenced for threat to murder Sen. Tester

    Updated Aug 28, 2023

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana MISSOULA — A Kalispell man who admitted to threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in calls to his office was sentenced today to two-and-a-half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Kevin Patrick Smith, 46, pleaded guilty in April to threats to murder a United States senator. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents and in statements in court, the government said public dis...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Havre residents plead in fentanyl, meth case

    Updated Aug 22, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — Two Havre residents accused of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine to the Fort Belknap and the Rocky Boy’s Indian reservations admitted Monday to a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Brittany Alice Bradley, 25, and Daniel First Raised, 32, each pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants face a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years of imprisonment, a $5 million fine and at least four...

  • From the Courts - Federal Court: Man sentenced for meth trafficking on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

    Updated Aug 17, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A Colorado man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Moises Zamora, 37, of Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to possession with intent to distribute meth. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at Monday’s hearing. The government alleged in court documents that in September 2021, n...

  • From the Courts - Man pleads to meth trafficking, firearm crimes on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

    Updated Apr 5, 2023

    Press release GREAT FALLS — A man accused of trafficking drugs on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation after law enforcement found a pound of methamphetamine and eight firearms in his truck admitted to charges Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Thomas “Smurf” Knife, 41, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Knife faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release...

  • From the Courts: Man sentenced to prison for domestic abuse

    Updated Feb 22, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted to assaulting a woman with whom he was in a relationship on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Clay James Bad Hawk, 25, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to domestic abuse by a habitual offender. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that in December 2021, Bad H...

  • From the Courts - Washington man sentenced to 33 months in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl to Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation

    Updated Jan 27, 2023

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A Washington man who admitted to bringing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation for distribution was sentenced today to 33 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Hugo Gutierrez Rodriguez, aka Victor aka Juice, 42, of Yakima, Washington, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Mo...

  • Man sentenced for stabbing woman on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

    Updated Jan 26, 2023

    U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana GREAT FALLS — A Hays man who admitted to stabbing a woman in the back was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Tyrell Andrew Laroque, 34, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court allowed Laroque to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons. In court documents, the g...

  • From the Courts - Hill County Justice Court: Former Havre police officer pleads guilty to misdemeanors

    Updated Nov 7, 2022

    Former Havre Police officer Brandon Murnion pleaded guilty in Hill County Justice Court last week to two misdemeanors. Murnion was accused of kicking in two doors July 10, on the 700 Block of Fourth Street and the 200 Block of Eighth Avenue and creating a disturbance by “creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act that serves no legitimate purpose” on the 700 Block of Fourth Avenue. Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said last Wednesday that Murrnion, who started as a probationary officer with Havre Aug...

  • From the Courts - Federal District Court: Man sentenced for assaulting woman with car jack handle

    Updated Nov 3, 2022

    GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted to hitting a woman with a car jack handle on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Brian Lee Big Bow, 45, pleaded guilty in July to assault with a dangerous weapon. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that in January 2021, law enforcement responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Rocky Boy...

  • From the Courts: Federal District Court - Defendant admits to shooting woman in the face over drug deal

    Updated Sep 16, 2022

    Press release GREAT FALLS — A woman suspected of shooting a woman in the face over a drug deal on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge Thursday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Tricia Friede Gardipee, 50, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Gardipee faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sen...

  • Billings woman admits trafficking fentanyl on Rocky Boy

    Updated Aug 16, 2022

    Press release GREAT FALLS — A Billings woman suspected of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges Monday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Chantel Marie Azure, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Azure faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Morris set sen...

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