A federal court in Billings, Montana, saw a series of high-profile cases this week, with several defendants appearing before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints.
The cases included:
Jesse Lee Hopkins, 38, a transient, was arraigned on charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hopkins faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge, as well as a mandatory minimum two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft charge.
Hopkins was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations and the Billings Police Department investigated the case.
Joseph Lee Doney, 41, of Billings, was also arraigned on charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, being an armed career criminal, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of body armor by a violent felon. If convicted of the most serious crime, Doney faces a mandatory minimum 15 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
Doney was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Geofredo James Littlebird, Jr., 38, of Lame Deer, was arraigned on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Littlebird faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Littlebird was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case.
Michael Joseph Owens, 42, of Aurora, Colorado, was arraigned 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. If convicted of the most serious crime, Owens faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release on the drug counts, as well as a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release on the firearm count.
Owens was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol, and Laurel Police Department investigated the case.
Alex George Deserly, 43, of Box Elder, was arraigned on charges of strangulation and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner. If convicted of the most serious crime, Deserly faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Deserly was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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