The United States Attorney's Office announced that on February 9, 2012, in Billings, after a federal district court trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MICHAEL STUKER, a 26-year-old resident of Billings, was found guilty of witness tampering and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Sentencing is set for May 10, 2012. He is currently detained.

JOSHUA SWAN-STUKER, a 32-year-old resident of Billings was acquitted of the above charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.

STUKER faces possible penalties of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. In addition, STUKER faces the possibility of an additional mandatory seven year imprisonment up to life, consecutive to any other sentence, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The investigation was conducted as part of the "Fearless Justice Initiative" in the District of Montana. The Initiative is designed to strengthen public safety efforts in Montana's communities through the suppression of intimidation and coercion of victims and witnesses to crime. The Initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Montana, was the first of its kind in the nation.

 

 

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