The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 20, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:

JERI LYNN MILHEIM, age 31, CYNTHIA ANN RICKFORD, age 20, and KELLY RENAE LYNN SANDERSON, age 24, residents of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to pass counterfeit currency, counterfeiting obligations, and uttering counterfeit obligations. MILHEIM is currently detained. RICKFORD and SANDERSON are currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Billings Police Department.

WILLIAM RAY NELSON, a 56-year-old resident of Truckee, California, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, NELSON faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Billings Police Department, and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

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.

 

 

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