Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on July 1, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MICHAEL ADAMS appeared for sentencing. ADAMS was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 9 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Restitution: $920

• Supervised Release: 3 years

ADAMS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On November 6, 2008, ADAMS, along with two other individuals (one of which was a juvenile) forcibly broke into the Northside Pawn Shop in Billings. Once inside, ADAMS and the others broke into a glass display case and stole two firearms. Their actions set off a motion alarm and officers with the Billings Police Department responded.

All three suspects were still present when Billings Police officers arrived and all three were apprehended. ADAMS and the other adult confessed to their actions and the firearms were recovered.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that ADAMS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, ADAMS does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Zink prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

 

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