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U.S. Attorney’s Office: Bozeman man admits buying firearms in Montana, illegally exporting to Mexico
A Bozeman man accused of buying firearms in Montana and selling them to individuals in Mexico admitted Wednesday to illegally exporting guns, said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich in a news release. Cristyan Jose Gonzalez-Carrillo, 37, pleaded guilty to illegal export before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, according to the news release. Gonzalez-Carrillo faces a maximum […]
Great Falls Air Force member pleads guilty to possessing and selling child pornography
A U.S. Air Force member at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls admitted Tuesday to obtaining and selling images of child sexual abuse material using social media, according to a Montana U.S. Attorney’s Office press release. The release said investigators determined Brandon Earl Bankston, 23, assigned to Malmstrom’s missile squadron, possessed approximately 5,000 images […]
Gianforte: $57.3 million raised privately for Montana Heritage Center
The state of Montana raised an historic $57.3 million in private donations for the Montana Heritage Center, set to open in 2025, according to a joint announcement this week from the Governor’s Office and Montana Historical Society. The newly renovated center includes a 66,000-square-foot addition to and the renewal of the historic 70-year-old Montana Historical […]
Woman hospitalized after bear attack in Flathead County
A 73-year-old woman was hospitalized after a bear attack north of Polebridge in Flathead County on Sunday, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks press release. The woman was walking with her husband and dog on national forestland when a bear emerged from thick brush and attacked her, according to the release. Her husband […]
U.S. Attorney’s Office: Hardin meth dealer pleads guilty, faces $5 million fine
A Hardin man accused of selling methamphetamine as part of an investigation into large-scale drug trafficking based on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to a distribution crime Thursday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a press release. Anthony Springfield, 22, pleaded guilty to distribution of meth. Springfield faces a mandatory minimum of five years to […]
Montana man sentenced to six years in prison for Jan. 6 assault on officer
A Montana man was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison on several felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, for his involvement in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Isaac Steve Sturgeon, 34, of Dillon, on Jan. 6, 2021, joined the mob on the Capitol grounds, eventually climbing through […]
Postal carrier admits stealing mail to look for cash, gift cards
A carrier who delivered mail for the U.S. Postal Service was sentenced Monday after she admitted to stealing mail from her route in search of cash and gift cards from more than 90 victims, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a news release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris sentenced Katie Elizabeth Bowlds, 39, of […]
Candidates announce for Congress, Attorney General’s Office in Montana
A handful of candidates have recently filed for statewide office including a Bozeman Democrat running for the Attorney General’s Office, three new congressional candidates in the eastern district and a candidate for Secretary of State. Bozeman attorney Ben Alke recently filed to run as a Democrat for the Attorney General’s Office. According to his website, he […]
‘Ride for their lives’ event in Billings will focus on climate change
Montana healthcare providers are sponsoring a “Ride for Their Lives” bike ride to draw attention to the fact that our kids’ health is negatively affected by climate change. From 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, sponsors Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate and Billings Trailnet, in cooperation with the Children’s Clinic of Billings […]
Former state health department employee admitted stealing nearly $90,000 in federal assistance
A former employee with the state health department admitted to stealing nearly $90,000 from federal assistance programs by submitting false information on applications. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, Heather Marie Bugni, 34, of Butte, was a client services coordinator for six years and processed applications and approved benefits for multiple programs including […]
Illegal possession of gun sends Billings felon to prison for 30 months
A Billings felon who was on probation when officers found him wearing a bandana over his face and a carrying semi-automatic rifle wrapped in a blanket as he walked down a residential street was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said […]
Yellowstone: Park busy in 2023 after historic 2022 flooding
Yellowstone National Park saw a 45% increase in visitors this August compared to the same month in 2022, the year the park saw historic flooding, Yellowstone said Thursday in a news release. The park counted 846,389 recreation visits in August 2023 compared to 582,211 in August 2022. The August 2023 total is also a 3% […]