BILLINGS, Mont. – A wave of federal arraignments this week in Montana reveals a grim picture of criminal activity ranging from large-scale drug trafficking to violent assaults. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana announced the proceedings, but behind the legal jargon are real people allegedly fueling the criminal underworld.
Daniel Mark Miller, 60, of Tucson, Arizona, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan on December 5th and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The stakes are high for Miller, who faces a mandatory minimum of five years, and potentially up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge. A $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release also hang in the balance. The investigation was a joint effort by the U.S. Postal Service and the Billings Police Department.
Another significant case involves Jamicca Yvonne West, aka Charlie, 24, of Tacoma, Washington. West also pleaded not guilty before Judge Cavan on charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The penalties are severe: five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine for the drug charges, and a mandatory five years to life in prison, *consecutive* to any other sentence, along with a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. The FBI led the investigation into West’s alleged activities.
Not all cases involve drugs. Cole Two Moons, 24, of Lame Deer, Montana, faced arraignment on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and strangulation. If convicted, Two Moons could spend up to 10 years behind bars, face a $250,000 fine, and serve three years of supervised release. Again, the FBI was the investigating agency. These charges suggest a brutal act of violence that brought federal intervention.
Two men were arraigned on firearm charges this week, both facing significant prison time. Brent Michael Waller, 42, of Joliet, Montana, and Paul Franklin, 41, of Billings, Montana, were each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Waller faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Franklin faces the same penalties. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office investigated Waller’s case, while Homeland Security Investigations handled the Franklin investigation. The proliferation of firearms in the hands of convicted felons remains a constant threat.
All five defendants – Miller, West, Two Moons, Waller, and Franklin – were detained pending further proceedings. These arraignments are merely the first steps in a long legal process, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Grimy Times will continue to follow these cases and report on the outcomes as they unfold, shining a light on the dark corners of federal crime in Montana.
Related Federal Cases
- Meth Conspiracy Unfolds in Montana · Louisiana
- Blue Daniel Densmore, Meth Trafficking, ID 2024 · Montana
- Manuel Flores, Attempted Child Enticement, Montana 2024 · Alaska
- Cory Spurlock, Double Murder-For-Hire, Montana 2025 · Nevada
- Carlos Ramon Castro-Rocha, Heroin Conspiracy, Arizona 2024 · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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