DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Montana

For Immediate Release

Friday, December 10, 2021
Leif M. Johnson
, United States Attorney
Contact: Clair J. Howard

Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

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

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 9 was:

Kalled Sam Hassen Jaha, 39, of Chinook, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jaha faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Jaha was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-76.

Appearing on Dec. 7 was:

Nicole Jo Brent, 44, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brent faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Brent was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service and FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force investigated the case.  PACER case reference. 21-94.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Dec. 7 was:

Ronald Joseph Champange, 62, of Great Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Champange faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Champange was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-75.

Appearing on a criminal complaint was:

Nathaniel Jameco Brown, 44, of Spokane, Washington, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brown faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Brown was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-85.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. 

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Denver Field Division