Billings Felon Follet Caught With Loaded 9mm During Manhunt

BILLINGS — A desperate attempt to evade police while aiding escaped jail inmates landed 34-year-old Jeffrey Wayne Follet of Billings in federal court, and now, a guilty plea. Follet admitted today to illegally possessing a firearm, a loaded 9mm pistol, while actively assisting individuals fleeing justice. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced the conviction, stemming from a chaotic scene last September.

On September 12, 2022, Billings Police Department officers were engaged in a city-wide search for two inmates who had broken out of the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. Information led them to an apartment building on South 27th Street, where the escapees were believed to be hiding. As officers surveilled the location, a passenger car pulled up, and four individuals exited, quickly entering the vehicle. Two of those individuals were immediately identified as the escaped inmates.

When officers attempted a traffic stop, the car fled, initiating a pursuit. Utilizing a precision immobilization technique, police disabled the vehicle near an intersection. It was then that Follet, seated in the rear passenger side, exited the car brandishing a pistol. Officers immediately ordered him to drop the weapon. Follet initially attempted to discard the gun behind his back before fleeing on foot, but was quickly apprehended.

Adding to the severity of the offense, Follet was already on Montana state supervision due to a prior felony conviction, explicitly prohibiting him from possessing firearms. The recovered 9mm pistol was confirmed to be loaded, presenting a clear and present danger to officers and the public. Follet pleaded guilty to the charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, as outlined in the indictment.

He now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release following his incarceration. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided over the guilty plea, and a sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when determining the final penalty. Follet remains detained pending further proceedings.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey is prosecuting the case, a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Billings Police Department. This case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. The Department’s renewed focus on PSN emphasizes trust-building, community support, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.

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