FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
FRANCIS EDWARD SHOESTOCK PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena on October 24, 2007, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, FRANCIS EDWARD SHOESTOCK, a 40-year-old resident of Helena, pled guilty to being in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Sentencing is set for January 24, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In 1992, SHOESTOCK was convicted of forgery in Arizona and was thereby prohibited from possessing firearms.
On May 11, 2007, after having received information that SHOESTOCK was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted a search of SHOESTOCK'S apartment. Recovered during the search were a sawed-off shotgun and a pistol. The shotgun had a barrel length of approximately 15.75 inches.
When questioned, SHOESTOCK admitted to possession of the sawed-off shotgun. He stated that he was holding the shotgun for a friend and that he knew the barrel was cut short.
SHOESTOCK faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
