Billings man sentenced to prison for bad check scheme, illegal possession of firearm.
BILLINGS — In a shocking turn of events, a Billings man was sentenced to five years and five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a brazen bad check scheme and illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Carl Mark Madden, 47, pleaded guilty in April to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the sentencing hearing, where she also ordered Madden to pay $7,536 in restitution. The defendant’s scheme to defraud local businesses by passing stolen and forged checks throughout the Billings community was allegedly uncovered by law enforcement.
Prosecutors alleged that Madden used the identification of multiple victims and forged the signatures of real people to pass the checks. The defendant was even recorded on surveillance video at Shipton’s Big R East forging the signature of a victim on a check.
According to court documents, Madden confessed to the scheme on November 17, 2020. Prior to his confession, a Billings Police officer spotted Madden walking down State Avenue and asked if he would voluntarily go to police headquarters for questioning. During a safety pat down, the officer found drug paraphernalia, and Madden consented to a search of a briefcase he was carrying, where a loaded .45-caliber pistol was discovered. The gun had been reported stolen, and Madden later admitted to buying it from an associate.
Madden’s history of felony convictions in South Carolina also made him prohibited from possessing a firearm. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in such reckless and deceitful behavior. The people of Billings can rest assured that justice has been served, and Madden will face the consequences of his actions behind bars.
Related Federal Cases
- Brian Burgess, Stolen Firearm Possession, SC 2024 · Alabama
- Kendolius Cortez Jones, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, S.C. 2024 · Alabama
- Fareed Abdul Jabar, Glock Possession, SC 2023 · Alabama
- Charles Gibson Bailey, Improvised Bombs, Montana 2024 · South Carolina
- Jesse Laslovich, MMIP Crisis Action, Montana 2024 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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