Box Elder man sentenced to over 2 years in prison for illegally possessing firearm on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man who illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 32 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Franklin Troy Caplette, 40, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on October 12, 2024, Caplette possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a chest holster during his arrest for violating his federal supervised release. Because he attempted to run from law enforcement prior to his arrest, a responding officer had to discharge his taser twice before Caplette was arrested.

In June 2013, Caplette was sentenced in federal court to 62 months of imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. His supervised release was revoked five times in that case. In February 2021, Caplette was sentenced to 42 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in a different case, again in federal court.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF, Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, and U.S. Probation Office conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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