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 Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Feb. 1 was:
Joseph John Lequin, 65, of Shelby, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lequin faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Lequin was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-05.
Brian Lee Big Bow, 44, of Box Elder, on charges of strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon. If convicted of the most serious crime, Big Bow faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Big Bow was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-79.
Appearing on criminal complaints were:
Jesus Zamora Cuevas, 23, of Mexico, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearm and illegal re-entry of deported alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cuevas faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Cuevas was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-04.
Rolando Lopez Lara, 22, of Mexico, on charges of prohibited person in possession of ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lara faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Lara was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-05.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Feb. 2 was:
Jeffrey Brandon Zabolotney, 34, of Lolo, on charges of transportation of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zabolotney faces a mandatory minimum five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Zabolotney was released pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations and the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-57.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Feb. 3 was:
William Edward Coffin, 34, of Big Sky, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Coffin faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Coffin was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Montana Probation and Parole Division investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-03.
Chase David Carmody, 41, of Billings, on prohibited person in possession of firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Carmody faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Carmody was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-01.
Appearing on Feb. 4 was:
Curtis Jeffrey Montclair, 37, of Poplar, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Montclair faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Montclair was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fort Peck Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole Division investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-70.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system.
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