FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 25, 2008
ANGIE ELAINE AZURE SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on February 25, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ANGIE ELAINE AZURE, a resident of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. AZURE was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 12 months, consecutive to another sentence
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
AZURE was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to making a false statement during a firearms transaction.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On August 26, 2006, AZURE purchased a HiPoint 9mm caliber rifle from Warehouse Pawn in Great Falls. She lied during the transaction because she was not the true purchaser or buyer of the rifle. A fugitive from justice, who was also a drug user, was the true purchaser of the rifle.
When interviewed on October 19, 2006, AZURE admitted to law enforcement that this individual paid her $100 for purchasing the firearm for him.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that AZURE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, AZURE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Office of the Inspector General for Malmstrom Air Force Base, the Great Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws. In Montana, the effort under PSN is called "Catch and No Release."
