Billings, Montana – In a recent case of illegal firearm possession, a Billings man has been sentenced to five years in prison.
William Thomas Fischer, Jr., 58, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm on November 20.
The incident occurred on July 2, 2018, when a Billings Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on Fischer, who was driving and wanted on an arrest warrant.
The officer observed Fischer place two small bindles of suspected methamphetamine in his mouth and removed him from the vehicle to prevent him from swallowing the bindles.
Although the bindles were not located, a BPD K9 dog gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics, and the vehicle was seized pending a search warrant.
During the search, officers found two firearms: a 12-gauge shotgun and an SKS semi-automatic rifle.
Two days later, Fischer told a woman in a recorded call from jail that there were two guns in the car.
Fischer was previously convicted in 2003 for felony possession of a firearm by an unlawful user and addict of a controlled substance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime.
The PSN program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Fischer was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters.
Fischer’s case is a prime example of the consequences of illegal firearm possession.
The importance of addressing violent crime cannot be overstated, and the efforts of law enforcement agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are crucial in achieving this goal.
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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