The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on October 13, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

JOSHUA REED LEWIS, a 35-year-old resident of Columbia Falls, appeared on charges of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, LEWIS faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine and at least 4 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the Kalispell Police Department, the Whitefish Police Department, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Columbia Falls Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Probation and Parole, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The defendant 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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