Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Jan. 25 was:

Preston Jay Spotted Eagle, 30, of Browning, on charges of theft of government property, injury or depredation to government property and Golden and Bald Eagle Protection Act violation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spotted Eagle faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Spotted Eagle was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-87.

Deion Vincent Brown, also known as Peat and D, 27, of Detroit, Michigan, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Brown faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Brown was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Tri-Agency Task Force, Russell Country High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-72.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Jan. 27 was:

Thomas Clay Sebastian, 24, of Billings, on charges of attempted coercion and enticement. If convicted of the most serious crime, Sebastian faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Sebastian was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-09.

Jason Robert Kroepelin, 32, of Billings, on charges of attempted coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Kroepelin faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Kroepelin was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-05.

Alex Jason Todd, 22, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Todd faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Todd was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-10.

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

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