Evergreen Reporter

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that several individuals were recently arraigned or appeared before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Sept. 11 was Airian Mariah Russette, 30, of Havre and Box Elder, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and use of a firearm in commission of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Russette faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for the false statement charge; and a mandatory minimum of five years to life, consecutive to any other sentence, along with a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release for the firearm charge. Russette was released pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement, Havre Police Department, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation (PACER case reference: 24-46).

Tommy Michael VanHoose, 66, of Great Falls appeared on Sept. 10 on charges of submitting a false tax return. If convicted of the most serious crime, VanHoose faces up to three years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. VanHoose was released pending further proceedings following an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation (PACER case reference: 24-60).

In Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on Sept. 12 was Bradley James Turcotte, 35, of Ronan who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Turcotte faces up to 10 years in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release. Turcotte was detained pending further proceedings after an investigation by Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) (PACER case reference: 24-11).

Damien Michael Duffey, 31 from Butte appeared on Sept. 11 facing charges as a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted he faces up to 15 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release following investigations by ATF Butte-Silver Bow Police Department Montana Probation Parole (PACER case reference: 24-26).

Cheryl Ester Eslami aged forty-four from Kalispell also faced similar charges conspiracy possess distribute controlled substances if found guilty she could face mandatory minimum ten-year life sentence fined ten million dollars least five-year supervision detained awaiting trial PACER ref twenty-four forty-seven.

Joey Lee Forward thirty-four Missoula initial appearance criminal complaint September eleven accused same crimes Cheryl facing identical penalties investigated FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force PACER ref twenty-four fifty-five.

Taylor Gale Penny thirty-five Missoula charged similar offenses September fifth again penalties consistent others involved fentanyl distribution cases investigated FBI's task force PACER ref twenty-four fifty-one.

Dalton David Murray twenty-six Billings pleaded not guilty third September multiple methamphetamine-related offenses including unregistered firearm conviction could lead minimum decade imprisonment hefty fines extensive post-release monitoring ATF Montana Highway Patrol leading inquiries PACER ref twenty-four one hundred twenty-three.

Case progressions monitored via District Court Calendar PACER system access established http://www.pacer.gov/register.html public calendar available https://ecf.mtd.usourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl

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