Anaconda Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm While Under Indictment

MISSOULA – A federal judge sentenced Douglas James Gosnell, 62, of Anaconda, Montana, to 33 months in prison today for receipt of a firearm while under indictment.  Chief U.S.  District Court Judge Dana Christensen also sentenced Gosnell to three years of supervised release.  The sentence follows Gosnell’s August 11, 2015, guilty plea and will run concurrently with the remainder of a state sentence that Gosnell is serving.

Assistant United States Attorney Paulette Stewart stated in court documents that on May 18, 2013, Gosnell obtained a .357 caliber revolver while he was subject to prosecution for violation of a protective order in a state court action.  This instance is one of many in Gosnell’s criminal history in which he illegally possessed or used a firearm.  According the United States’ Sentencing Memo, Gosnell had multiple convictions over a period of nearly forty years, for a number of crimes including partner and family member assault, automobile theft, and four separate weapons possession offenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Law Enforcement Agency.  Gosnell will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.