Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 28, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:
CODY MICHAEL BEARD, a 21-year-old resident of Hardin, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BEARD faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of ten years up to life in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and at least five years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
TERESO CONTRERAS-CONTRERAS, a 33-year-old resident of Mexico, appeared on a charge of illegal re-entry of deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, CONTRERAS-CONTRERAS faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Archer is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
JOSE ARELLANO-LOPEZ, a 39-year-old resident of Mexico, appeared on a charge of illegal re-entry of deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, ARELLANO-LOPEZ faces possible penalties of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Archer is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by a cooperative effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
