Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Bozeman Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Gun Possession
MISSOULA - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Max Edward Samaniego, 27, of Bozeman, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the hearing.
On May 28, 2016, Samaniego possessed a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number in Bozeman, Montana. The pistol was found after he was stopped for reckless driving.
From June until August 2016, Samaniego possessed numerous firearms that were stolen from a Bozeman area residence. Samaniego then traded four firearms to someone in Butte for a motorcycle. Samaniego gave one firearm to a neighbor who helped him out. Another firearm was given to a friend.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bozeman Police Department, and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
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