Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 28 was:
Thomas James Newman, 60, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newman faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Newman was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-110.
Matthew Michael Metzger, 41, of Laurel, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Metzger faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Metzger was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-116.
Daniel James Garza, 31, a transient, on charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and receipt of a firearm by person under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Garza faces a maximum 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge and a mandatory minimum two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the aggravated identity theft count. Garza was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-88.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
