Deer Lodge Drug Convict Sentenced for Illegal Firearm

DEER LODGE, MT – A local troublemaker was slammed with a 21-month prison sentence for illegally wielding a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed.

Christopher Allen Rochon, 42, of Deer Lodge, faced Judge Dana L. Christensen in Missoula for his guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. The conviction stems from a June 2022 incident where Rochon was caught with a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition.

Rochon’s rap sheet includes a prior conviction for criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, which landed him in the Montana Department of Corrections. Sentenced to six years, four were suspended after his arrest on April 20, 2024, during a traffic stop outside Anaconda.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney led the prosecution, while federal, state, and local agencies collaborated on the investigation. This operation is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing gun violence and violent crime across communities.

The Department of Justice has been bolstering its efforts under PSN, which focuses on fostering community trust, supporting prevention organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities. For more information on their initiatives, visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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