Gas Station Robbery Gunman Pleads Guilty
A 34-year-old East Helena man suspected of firing a gun during a Townsend gas station robbery has admitted to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Samuel James Collins pleaded guilty to possessing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence on July 10.
The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for November 24. Collins was detained pending further proceedings.
The crime occurred on October 16, 2023, at the Town Pump gas station in Townsend, where two employees were present during the robbery. The suspect, Collins, entered the store wearing a hooded blanket coat and demanded money, firing a round from a pistol. The employees complied, and the suspect left in a Ford F-150 pickup with an estimated $330 in cash.
About 20 minutes later, Meagher County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop of a truck matching the description of the truck used in the robbery. The driver was identified as Collins, and deputies found a pistol, cash, and a shell casing inside the truck.
In a subsequent search of the truck, law enforcement seized a loaded 9mm pistol, $329 in U.S. currency, a purple hooded sweatshirt, a white hat, and other items. The investigation determined that a bullet and shell casing found at the Town Pump were fired from a 9mm pistol found in the truck Collins was driving.
Collins faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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