BILLINGS, MT – A wave of federal indictments landed in Montana courtrooms this week, revealing a mix of gun violations and serious drug trafficking offenses. The Grimy Times has been tracking the cases as they move through the system, offering a glimpse into the underbelly of crime in Big Sky Country.
Erik Joseph Perlberg, 48, of Billings, appeared in court on August 11th, facing charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and, more seriously, illegal possession of a machine gun. If convicted, Perlberg could face up to 15 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He’s currently being held pending further legal proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, case reference 23-90.
Just a day earlier, on August 10th, Caeland Delmon Ackerman, 22, also of Billings, was arraigned on charges of being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. Similar to Perlberg, Ackerman faces a potential sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release if convicted. He too remains detained. The ATF was the investigating agency in this case, case reference 23-81.
Further north in Great Falls, Timothy Edward Gonser, 55, pleaded not guilty on August 8th to charges of being a prohibited person in possession of both firearms and ammunition. The potential penalty mirrors the previous cases: a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Gonser is also being held. This investigation was a collaborative effort between the ATF, Great Falls Police Department, and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, case reference 23-75.
The most complex case involves a multi-defendant drug trafficking operation. Agatha Noriz Carranza, 33, of Whitehall, appeared on August 7th, accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute both substances. She’s joined by co-defendants Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, 25, of Anaheim, California; Martin Topete Garcia, 32, of Mira Loma, California; Johnathan Topete, 27, of Mira Loma, California; and Anthony Wayne Johnson II, 46, of Santa Ana, California, who all appeared on July 27th facing similar charges. Garcia, Johnathan Topete and Johnson II face an additional charge of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on the drug charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of five additional years, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. All are currently detained. The investigation was led by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and the ATF, case reference 23-10.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds the public that these are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Citizens can monitor the progress of these cases through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system (pacer.gov). The Grimy Times will continue to follow these cases and provide updates as they develop.
Related Federal Cases
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- Jonathan M. Cuney, Ghost Gun Possession, NY 2024 · Missouri
- Butte Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Massive Meth, Fentanyl Scheme · Utah
- Bret Russell Hamlin, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Utah
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Alaska
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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