FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
MARCKUS JAMES GOVE 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 Great Falls on November 27, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, MARCKUS JAMES GOVE, a 21-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to being in possession of a firearm while under information for a felony offense. Sentencing is set for March 17, 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:
On May 16, 2006, an Information was filed in the Montana Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County, charging GOVE with failure to return rental property, a felony. GOVE was arrested on that charge on June 8, 2006, and appeared before the court for his arraignment on July 6, 2006. As of October 30, 2006, the date GOVE purchased the firearm, that case was still pending.
On October 30, 2006, Great Falls Police Department officers responded to the Hampton Inn in Great Falls on a report that drugs were found in a hotel room. Investigators learned that the room had been occupied by GOVE.
When interviewed, GOVE admitted that two and half weeks earlier, he purchased a 9mm pistol from a friend. GOVE met with a Great Falls Police detective and gave him a Hi-Point, Model C9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
On November 2, 2006, detectives interviewed an individual referred to here as "P.G." During the interview, "P.G." admitted to selling this pistol to GOVE for $350 several days prior to the interview. "P.G." provided detectives with a written receipt for the sale of the firearm to GOVE dated October 30, 2006.
As of October 30, 2006, the date GOVE purchased the firearm, the aforementioned case was still pending.
GOVE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Great Falls Police Department, and the Central Montana 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.
