Great Falls man convicted of illegal possession of guns and ammunition

GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who possessed guns and ammunition illegally was found guilty by a federal jury today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Ian Allister Tomlinson, 45, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Tomlinson faces 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for December 17, 2025, in Great Falls.  Tomlinson will remain released on conditions pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Tomlinson was convicted in the District Court for the First Judicial District of the State of Idaho of felony possession of a controlled substance. On July 9, 2024, Tomlinson appeared in person and was sentenced to a minimum fixed and determinate period of custody of one year followed by an indeterminate period of custody of up to one year, for a total unified sentence not to exceed two years. The Court suspended the sentence for two years and placed Tomlinson on probation for a period of two years. That same day, Tomlinson signed an acceptance of probation statement, acknowledging he understood the conditions of his probation. Thereafter, Tomlinson’s supervision was transferred to the State of Montana Probation and Parole.

In August 2024, Tomlinson signed an acknowledgement that his right to possess or own firearms or ammunition was suspended while on supervision. Specifically, he signed a Firearms and Voting Regulations form which states:

I further understand that my right to possess or own firearms or ammunition is suspended while under supervision. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing or receive firearms or ammunition [Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1)] Therefore, I understand I could be prosecuted for violation Federal law. I also understand that I could be punished for violating my conditions of supervision AND federally prosecuted.

The next day, Tomlinson signed his conditions of probation and parole. Condition 15 states: “Weapons: I will not use, own, possess, transfer, or be in control of any firearms, ammunition (including black powder), or weapons.”

On October 4, 2024, a witness contacted the Probation and Parole Office and reported that Tomlinson had a gun safe with several guns inside it a local storage unit.  Probation and Parole officers located Tomlinson at his place of employment. He provided the combination to the gun safe and admitted he had several firearms in the safe as well as some of his personal paperwork.

Probation and Parole officers located five rifles, six pistols, miscellaneous ammunition, Tomlinson’s passport, and other paperwork belonging to him inside the safe. They also recovered surveillance footage from the storage facility showing Tomlinson accessed the storage unit a few days prior to the search.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by State of Montana Probation and Parole Office with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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