Joshua John Swigut Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on April 13, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, JOSHUA JOHN SWIGUT, a 24-year-old resident of Bozeman, appeared for sentencing. SWIGUT was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 48 months each count, to run concurrently
Special Assessment: $200
Restitution: $12,340
Supervised Release: 5 years
SWIGUT was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to (2) counts of bank robbery.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On November 23, 2010, SWIGUT entered the First Interstate Bank in Bozeman, brandished a weapon, and demanded money from a teller. SWIGUT wore gloves, dark pants, a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, and a scarf wrapped around his face.
On December 16, 2010, SWIGUT entered the First Security Bank in Bozeman, brandished a weapon, and demanded money from a teller. SWIGUT wore a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, ski mask, sunglasses, dark pants, and dark gloves.
SWIGUT took $1,940 in United States currency from the First Interstate Bank, and $10,400 from the First Security Bank, both banks were then insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Witness #1 would have testified, that, while staying at a house with SWIGUT and another individual, SWIGUT woke Witness # 1 up on the morning of November 23, 2010, and told her/him that he had robbed a bank. Later that day, while Witness # 1 and SWIGUT were traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, SWIGUT showed Witness # 1 the money SWIGUT had stolen and then made a cash deposit at the First Interstate Bank in Missoula. Witness # 1 would have further testified that on December 16, 2010, she/he was woken up by SWIGUT again who informed her/him that he had robbed another bank. SWIGUT described the vehicle used at the time of the robbery to Witness #1, as well as the type of clothing SWIGUT wore. All were later corroborated by a second witness.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SWIGUT will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SWIGUT 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bozeman police Department.
