The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on August 30, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ANTHONY LANDELL GREGORI, a 22-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Sentencing has been set for December 10, 2012. He is currently detained.

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

On February 21, 2012, around 10:00 p.m., Great Falls Police were alerted to a robbery at the Eagles Lodge. It was reported that three men had robbed a female employee at gun point and then sprayed her in the face with pepper spray. Officers arrived to find the employee absolutely hysterical. She was sobbing and told officers she believed she was going to be shot during the robbery.

Officers began their investigation and found $3,961 had been stolen from the money drawers. The inside of the building also smelled of pepper spray so badly that the police called the Great Falls Fire and Rescue in order to aerate the room. Police interviewed the victim two days later because she was too upset to speak until that point.

According to the victim, the last customer left the bar around 9:30 p.m. Once the customer left, the victim began to clean the west end of the bar. She did not recall hearing anyone come inside, but heard a male voice tell her to turn around. The victim turned around to see three men who were all dressed in black hooded sweatshirts with their faces fairly covered. The three men then robbed the victim.

On February 23, 2012, Great Falls police received a tip regarding the three men who may have been involved in the robbery. Great Falls police corroborated the assertion that these three male suspects, which included GREGORI, robbed the Eagles Lodge with other evidence and interviews. Police contacted GREGORI and found he matched the description the victim provided of one of the men involved in the robbery.

GREGORI spoke with the police and said on the night of the robbery he was in a white car with two of his co-defendants. He wore a bandana across his face and covered his head with the black hood of his sweatshirt. GREGORI said he was involved in the robbery and described how himself and the others took the money, however, GREGORi would not identify who also participated in the robbery.

The Eagles Lodge is a part of the organization of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, which is based in Ohio. The Eagles Lodge uses and makes profit off of gambling machines purchased outside of Montana. It also sells liquor purchased outside of Montana, and the Eagles Lodge does all of its banking with U.S. Bank, which is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.

GREGORI faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. In addition, GREGORI faces the possibility of an additional mandatory seven year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

 

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