FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 18, 2007
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENTS
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on October 18, 2007, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:
TEAL ROUNDS, a 23-year-old resident of Billings and San Francisco, appeared on charges of sexual exploitation of children, distribution of ecstacy to a person under the age of 21, and distribution of marijuana to a person under the age of 21. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, ROUNDS faces possible penalties of a mandatory 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to a maximum of 40 years in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.
LAYMON McGAUGHEY, III, a 55-year-old resident of Las Vegas, appeared on charges of transportation and possession of child pornography. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, McGAUGHEY faces possible penalties of a mandatory 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
MERVIN LEROY SMALL, a 38-year-old resident of Nebraska, appeared on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of this charge, SMALL faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
RICHARD RAY LAUFER, JR., a 41-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, LAUFER faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. In addition, LAUFER faces an additional mandatory two year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Wolff is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.
- e defendants pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
