Informational: Federal Court Arraignment

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on March 13, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:

MICHELLE RENEE KINDNESS, a 47-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. She is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, KINDNESS faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.