FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 24, 2008
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 January 24, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:
KEVIN JAMES DIXON, a 37-year-old resident of Oregon, and PATIENCE D. ISAACS, a 21-year-old resident of Kentucky, appeared on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They are currently detained. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Wolff is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bozeman Police Department.
LARRY DALE SPANG, a 40-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, SPANG 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.
CHRISTOPHER DANE NELSON, a 22-year-old resident of Livingston, appeared on charges of theft from a federal firearms licensee, robbery affecting commerce, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a stolen firearm. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, NELSON faces possible penalties of a mandatory 25 years in prison and could be sentenced to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bozeman Police Department.
LUIS DEBORA-HERNANDEZ, age 39, appeared on a charge of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, DEBORA-HERNANDEZ faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
GILBERTO SANCHEZ-HERRERA appeared on a charge of illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, SANCHEZ-HERRERA faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
MARCO IBARRA-CAMACHO and RODOLFO IBARRA-CAMACHO appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both are currently detained. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of a mandatory 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between Drug Enforcement Administration, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Department of Criminal Investigations, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Dawson County Sheriff's Office.
SAUL NUNO, a resident of Billings, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute over 100 kilos of marijuana. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, NUNO faces possible penalties of a mandatory 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $2,000,000 fine and 4 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
JUAN SOTO-RENOVA, age 24, appeared on a charge of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, SOTO-RENOVA faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
DIEGO CRUZ-MENDOZA, age 25, appeared on a charge of illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, CRUZ-MENDOZA faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The 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.
