Box Elder woman admits lying to buy two firearms later used in a double homicide

GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder woman admitted on Nov. 13 to lying on a form to buy two firearms that were later used in a double homicide, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

The defendant, Airian Mariah Russette, 30, pleaded guilty to false statement during a firearms transaction. Russette faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for March 19, 2025. Russette was released pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that on March 27, Russette purchased two pistols from North 40 Outfitters, a federal firearms licensee in Havre, and immediately traveled back to Box Elder, where she traded the firearms to an individual in exchange for four oxycodone pills. The individual had contacted Russette prior to the purchase by text message and asked Russette to buy the two guns. The two firearms were recovered several hours later by law enforcement after they were used in a double homicide and still in possession of the homicide suspects. During an interview, Russette admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Form 4473 to buy the firearms for someone other than herself, a transaction known as a straw purchase. She further admitted that she traded the firearms for the four pills. Because Russette checked “yes” on the ATF form that she was the actual buyer of the firearms, it influenced North 40 Outfitters into believing that the two pistols could be lawfully sold to Russette and caused the business to do so. The firearms were a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The ATF, FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Hill County Sheriff’s 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.

XXX