Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
BILLINGS, Mont. — 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 beyond a reasonable doubt:
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 2 was:
Nicholas David Decker, 33, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Decker faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Decker was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI conducted the investigation.
Armondo Anthony Ronquillo, 37, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ronquillo faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ronquillo was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Appearing on Nov. 1 was:
Billy Joe Chavez, 40, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Chavez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chavez was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
Appearing on Oct. 26 was:
Joshua David Heafner, 39, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hafner faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Heafner was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Oct. 31 was:
Nicholas Geoffrey Combs, 28, of Portland, Oregon, on charges of distribution child pornography, receipt of child pornography and transportation of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Combs faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Combs was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula Police Department investigated the case.
Appearing on Oct. 30 was:
Efren Zanabriga Zuniga, 35, of Oaxaca, Mexico, on charges of production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zuniga faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Zuniga was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations and the Missoula Police Department investigated the case.
Caleb Gerard Diamond, 24, of Missoula, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Diamond faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Diamond was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula Police Department, Montana Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Appearing on Oct. 27 was:
Bryan Michael Balog, 30, of Missoula, on receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Balog faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Balog was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula Police Department and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case.
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston for an initial appearance on a criminal complaint on Oct. 31 was:
Frank Espinoza, 32, of Venezuela, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Espinoza faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Espinoza was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
Fatima Brito, 29, of Venezuela, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brito faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Brito was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
Diana Ruiz-Gomez, 26, of Mexico, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ruiz-Gomez faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Ruiz-Gomez was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
Emilio Fernando Dominguez-Martinez, 24, of Mexico, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Dominguez-Martinez faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Dominguez-Martinez was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
Fredy Hernandez-Morales, 28, of Mexico, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hernandez-Morales faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Hernandez-Morales was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
Viridiana Macias-Espinosa, 38, of Mexico, on charges of improper entry by alien. If convicted of the most serious crime, Macias-Espinosa faces a maximum of six months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Macias-Espinosa was detained pending further proceedings. The Border Patrol investigated the case.
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