The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 8, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, CHRISTOPHER ANDREW LICH, a 31-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana, money laundering, and admitted to a forfeiture allegation. Sentencing has been set for August 6, 2012. He is currently detained.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora stated the government would have proved at trial the following:

From early 2006 up to and including December 22, 2011, LICH possessed with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana in Billings. LICH received large multi-pound loads of marijuana for redistribution during this time period.

On April 28, 2010, LICH conducted a financial transaction affecting interstate commerce by depositing drug proceeds (cash) into a credit union and then wrote a check on the account to another financial institution to make one of many credit card payments.

LICH will also forfeit several vehicles, including two motorcycles.

LICH faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine, and 8 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

 

 

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