BILLINGS, MT – A flurry of federal court appearances in Montana this week reveals a grim snapshot of crime plaguing the state. From bank fraud and illegal firearms to drug trafficking and domestic violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is moving forward with prosecutions, but the sheer volume of cases paints a troubling picture.
Jesse Lee Hopkins, 38, a transient, was arraigned in Billings on December 29th, facing charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities allege Hopkins engaged in bank fraud, and if convicted of the most serious charge, he could face up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years of supervised release. Additionally, the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum of two years consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. Hopkins is currently detained.
Also in Billings, 41-year-old Joseph Lee Doney is accused of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition as an armed career criminal, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of body armor as a violent felon. The charges carry a staggering potential sentence: a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Doney, also detained, faces a severe reckoning if convicted. The ATF led the investigation into Doney’s alleged crimes.
Further east, in Lame Deer, Geofredo James Littlebird, Jr., 38, appeared on December 28th on charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. A conviction could land Littlebird up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He is also being held pending further court proceedings. The FBI investigated this case. Meanwhile, in Great Falls, Alex George Deserly, 43, of Box Elder, is facing charges of strangulation and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner. If convicted, Deserly could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He too is currently detained.
The most complex case involves Michael Joseph Owens, 42, of Aurora, Colorado, arraigned December 27th on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Owens faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charges, *plus* a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. This investigation was a multi-agency effort involving the ATF, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and Laurel Police Department.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Case progress can be tracked via the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system (http://www.pacer.gov/register.html). But the arraignments serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing criminal activity within Montana’s borders and the relentless work of federal agencies to bring perpetrators to justice. Case references: 22-108, 22-146, 22-149, 22-144, 22-101.
Related Federal Cases
- Jesse Lee Hopkins, Bank Fraud, Billings MT, 2022 · Texas
- Jory D. Parks Charged with Wire Fraud, Billings MT, 2021 · New York
- Dorothy Matsuba Led $30M Mortgage Relief Fraud Scheme, Los Angeles … · Alaska
- Amber Lynn Lanphear, Meth Trafficking with Firearms, MT 2024 · Colorado
- Joseph Neal Sanberg, $248M Investment Fraud, CA 2024 · Alaska
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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