The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on October 11, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MATTHEW RUSSELL CAMPBELL, a 19-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. CAMPBELL was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 60 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

CAMPBELL was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to murder for hire.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

CAMPBELL wanted his mother killed for insurance proceeds, household items, and a recent inheritance that she had received. CAMPBELL originally had contact with a person in Helena who gave the information to law enforcement. The person in Helena had a number of phone calls with CAMPBELL and ultimately arranged for a meeting with an undercover officer ("UC").

After talking to CAMPBELL on the phone, the "UC" met CAMPBELL in Billings during the evening of October 18, 2010. CAMPBELL provided his mother's name, address, phone number, and work schedule. He also drew a map to his mother's house. CAMPBELL offered $10,000 to the "UC" to kill his mother. CAMPBELL liked the idea of his mother disappearing and the disappearance being blamed on his step-father.

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

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Helena Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

 

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