Information: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 18, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• RODNEY TOMMIE STEWART, a 31-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared on charges of domestic assault by a habitual offender.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, VANCE faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  PACER Case Reference.  14-20

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 16, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• VERONICA RAYE VANCE, a 24-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, VANCE faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  PACER Case Reference.  16-83

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 10, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• TERRI RAYE BIXBY, a 46-year-old resident of Colstrip, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, BIXBY faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  PACER Case Reference.  17-70

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on October 10, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• BRIAN RUSSELL BLACKWELL, a 43-year-old resident of Helena, appeared on charges of failure to register.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, BLACKWELL faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.  PACER Case Reference.  17-13

 

• BRADLEY THORPE THOMPSON, a 32-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on charges of escape.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, THOMPSON faces 5 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.  PACER Case Reference.  17-70

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 5, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• SHANE MICHAEL COURTNEY, a 49-year-old resident of Anaconda, appeared on charges of receipt/distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, COURTNEY faces 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. PACER Case Reference.  17-18

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 4, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• MATTHEW THOMAS JORDAN, a 40-year-old resident of Harlowton, appeared on charges of possession of an unregistered firearm.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, JORDAN faces 10 years in prison, $10,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. PACER Case Reference.  17-103

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 3, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• JEREMY JAMES McCUNE, a 42-year-old resident of Shepherd, appeared on charges of wire fraud.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, McCUNE faces 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference.  17-105

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on October 2, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• TIFFANEY ANN BOLAND, a 51-year-old resident of Sidney, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, BOLAND faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigations. PACER Case Reference.  17-100

 

• ANTHONY CORDELL COUTURE, a 48-year-old resident of Sidney, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, COUTURE faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigations. PACER Case Reference.  17-100

 

• TODD MICHAEL HARRIS, SR., a 52-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, HARRIS faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the FBI Task Force. PACER Case Reference.  17-102

 

• JULIUS ANDREW KOCH, a 35-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, and possession of a stolen firearm.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, KOCH faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. PACER Case Reference.  17-104

 

• YOLANDA MARIE MEZA, a 30-year-old, residency unknown, appeared on charges of distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, MEZA faces 40 years in prison, $5,000,000 in fines and 4 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Eastern Montana HIDTA. PACER Case Reference.  17-106

 

• BOBBY PAYNE, a 45-year-old resident of Sidney, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, PAYNE faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigations. PACER Case Reference.  17-100

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Cavan in Billings on September 27, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• ERIC WAYDE MITCHELL, a 22-year-old resident of Baker, appeared on charges of possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, MITCHELL faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. PACER Case Reference.  17-107

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on September 27, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• BEN COLE BUCKLES, SR., a 49-year-old resident of Wolf Point, appeared on charges of sexual abuse of a minor.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, BUCKLES faces 15 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and lifetime supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. PACER Case Reference.  17-66

 

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula on September 26, 2017 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

 

• ALICIA ROSE ROONEY, a 42-year-old resident of Boise, Idaho, appeared on charges of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets, and embezzlement and theft from employee benefit plan.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, ROONEY faces 5 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.  PACER Case Reference.  17-26

 

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.

 

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.