Felon sentenced to prison for possessing firearm

GREAT FALLS — A Billings man who had absconded from probation and was arrested on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to two years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Aaron Leo Ludwig, 30, pleaded guilty in June to felon in possession of a firearm.

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

The government alleged in court documents that on Dec. 22, 2020, law enforcement in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, were looking for Ludwig, who was wanted on a probation hold, and located him at a residence. A female at the residence asked officers if she could get a jacket for Ludwig because of the cold weather, and Ludwig had asked her for a particular jacket. When the female picked up the jacket, she paused and then pulled a gun out of a pocket in the presence of officers. Ludwig looked up at the ceiling. Ludwig initially declined to say how he got the firearm, identified as a 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen in Billings in May 2020. Ludwig later stated the gun was his and that it was “hot.” Ludwig had previous felony convictions, including for a drug offense and for partner or family member assault, and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department.

XXX