BILLINGS, MT – Three Montana men are facing serious federal weapons charges after recent arraignments in Great Falls and Billings, according to court documents. The cases, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside local law enforcement, highlight the ongoing struggle to keep firearms out of the hands of those legally prohibited from owning them.
Edmund Taylor Madarassy IV, 27, of Ennis, appeared in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston on April 16th, pleading not guilty to charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted, Madarassy faces a potential 15-year prison sentence, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He is currently being held pending further court proceedings. The Helena Police Department and Montana Probation & Parole assisted the ATF in this investigation. Case number: 24-10.
In Billings, Kyle James Jonas, 32, of Park City, also entered a not guilty plea on April 17th before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto. Jonas is accused of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition *and* possession of a stolen firearm – adding a layer of complexity to his case. A conviction could land him a maximum of 15 years in prison, alongside a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Unlike Madarassy, Jonas was released pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department worked alongside ATF agents on this case. Case number: 24-41.
A third defendant, Alexander Mikhail Lyles, 37, of Billings, appeared in court on April 15th, also facing charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Lyles, like Madarassy, was detained pending further proceedings. If convicted of the most serious crime, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The Billings Police Department and ATF jointly conducted the investigation. Case number: 23-122.
Federal prosecutors emphasize that the indictments and criminal complaints are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Jesse Laslovich, is prosecuting the cases. These cases demonstrate the ATF’s continued focus on stemming the flow of illegal firearms and holding accountable those who violate federal gun laws.
Members of the public can monitor the progress of these cases through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system (pacer.gov). The PACER system provides electronic access to court documents. The District Court’s calendar can be found at ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl. Grimy Times will continue to follow these cases and provide updates as they develop.
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