MISSOULA, MT – A trio of federal arraignments this week in Montana revealed a mix of firearms offenses, drug trafficking, and property destruction, according to court records. The cases, handled by U.S. Magistrate Judges in Missoula and Billings, highlight the persistent undercurrent of criminal activity plaguing the state.
Christopher Glenn Lakey, 35, of Kalispell and Columbia Falls, appeared in Missoula on January 5th, pleading not guilty to charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and being an armed career criminal. If convicted on the most serious charge, Lakey faces a steep 15-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto ordered Lakey detained pending further proceedings. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI, FBI Lab, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Whitefish Police Department, Montana Probation and Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Case reference: 22-43.
Also in Missoula, Jared Glenn Barth, 33, appeared on January 4th, accused of depredation of government property. A conviction could land Barth a 10-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He was released pending further proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Services and U.S. Marshals Service Court Security staff led the investigation. Case reference: 22-61.
Moving to Billings, Nicole Marie Schwalbach, 40, of Billings, entered a not guilty plea on January 5th to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. The stakes are high for Schwalbach, facing a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release if found guilty. Judge Timothy J. Cavan ordered her detained. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Two other Billings defendants also appeared before Judge Cavan. Cody Lawrence Big Hair, 31, is accused of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. A conviction could bring a 10-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He was detained. The ATF investigated. (Case reference: 22-119). Crystal Angela Nicole Gutierrez, 33, of Aurora, Colorado, faces charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, carrying a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. Gutierrez was released pending further proceedings, and the investigation involved the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol, ATF, and Laurel Police Department. (Case reference: 22-144).
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, led by Jesse Laslovich, encourages the public to monitor case progress via the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. For PACER account registration: https://www.pacer.gov/register.html. District Court Calendar: https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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