Lavina Man Gets 44 Months for Illegal Rifle Possession

Troy Willoughby, a 54-year-old man from Lavina, Montana, was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a rifle, a crime rooted in a history of violence and repeated brushes with the law. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment, following Willoughby’s guilty plea to a federal firearms charge.

The case traces back to November 2016, when Golden Valley County law enforcement responded to a domestic assault involving Willoughby. The victim disclosed to officers that Willoughby had access to a firearm despite being legally prohibited from possessing one due to prior felony convictions. Initially, Willoughby denied having the weapon — but later admitted its location, leading authorities to recover a Savage, Model III, .270 caliber bolt-action rifle along with ammunition.

Willoughby’s criminal record is extensive. He has six prior felony convictions, including multiple counts of partner and family member assault. Prosecutors detailed a pattern of violence, noting attacks against his grandmother, girlfriend, and his girlfriend’s son. In sentencing filings, federal attorneys emphasized that Willoughby “has a propensity for violence” and “seemingly does not take the criminal justice system seriously,” underscoring the danger he poses to the community.

His status as a prohibited person stems from a prior felony conviction in Golden Valley County, which stripped him of the right to own or possess any firearm. Despite that, Willoughby concealed and maintained access to a high-powered rifle, violating federal law and placing public safety at risk.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), working in coordination with the Golden Valley County Sheriff’s Office and other federal, state, and local agencies. Authorities treated the case as a high-priority violation, given Willoughby’s violent history and the potential for escalation.

This sentencing is part of the Department of Justice’s reinvigorated Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by targeting repeat offenders and illegal gun possession. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana continues to partner with law enforcement across jurisdictions to hold violent criminals like Willoughby accountable.