Joseph Wayne Cantrell, Hobbs Act Robbery, Montana 2022

BILLINGS, MT – Joseph Wayne Cantrell, 29, of Billings, admitted today to robbing a man at gunpoint and then leading authorities on a reckless chase across Yellowstone and Big Horn counties. The January 8, 2022, incident ended only after a lengthy standoff and a hail of gunfire, according to federal prosecutors.

The victim was sitting in his 2017 Subaru Outback in a Billings parking lot when Cantrell approached, demanding the vehicle. When the victim refused, Cantrell brandished a black handgun, immediately forcing the man to surrender his car. The stolen Outback was quickly located by law enforcement, sparking a pursuit that stretched into Big Horn County.

The chase escalated when Cantrell, refusing to yield, led officers on a high-speed run. Authorities deployed spike strips in an attempt to disable the vehicle. During the pursuit, gunshots were reportedly fired from inside the stolen Subaru, shattering the passenger-side window. The vehicle eventually crashed, and Cantrell fled on foot, still clutching the firearm.

A tense standoff ensued, lasting several hours. Eventually, Cantrell discarded the 9mm semi-automatic pistol and was taken into custody. He now faces a hefty prison sentence after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He could receive up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the robbery charge alone.

Adding to the potential penalty, Cantrell is also looking at a mandatory minimum of seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, plus a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine the final sentence on August 2, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines. Cantrell remains detained pending that hearing.

The case was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas K. Godfrey and Lori Harper Suek, with crucial investigative work conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Probation and Parole also contributed to the investigation. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the nation.

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