Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently 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 May 18 was:
Jomo Kenyatta Johnny Hill, 50, of Jackson, Mississippi, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hill faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the drug crimes and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the crime of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Hill was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Highway Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-88.
Curtis Leo Crazymule, 45, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault of intimate and dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury and assault of an intimate and dating partner by strangulation. If convicted of the most serious crime, Crazymule faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Crazymule was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, FBI and Indian Health Service conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-44.
Richard Williams Brooks, 81, of Hamilton, on charges of wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brooks faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Brooks was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-23.
Appearing on May 16 was:
Justin Heigis Windecker, 43, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Windecker faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Windecker was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-34.
Appearing on May 15 was:
Mark Steven Elkshoulder, 56, of Billings, on charges of failure to register as a sex offender. If convicted of the most serious crime, Elkshoulder faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Elkshoulder was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-35.
Appearing on May 12 was:
Stephen “Mutt” John Parker, 60, of Lame Deer, on charges of aggravated sexual abuse and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Parker faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and a mandatory minimum of five years to a lifetime of supervised release. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-30.
Appearing on May 11 was:
Tristen Jay Peters, 26, of Billings, on charges of attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Peters faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Peters was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-48.
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.
