FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 28, 2008
TYSON WAYNE LIEBMAN 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 Billings, on February 27, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, TYSON WAYNE LIEBMAN appeared for sentencing. LIEBMAN was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 46 months
- Special Assessment: $125
- Supervised Release: 3 years
LIEBMAN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to being a felon-in-possession of a firearm and littering on public lands.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On November 18, 2006, LIEBMAN was on supervision with the Montana Department of Corrections for a 2004 State of Montana District Court possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute conviction.
On November 18, 2006, LIEBMAN and two others entered the public shooting area on BLM land located near mile marker 17 on Highway 87. A BLM ranger contacted the three occupants as they entered the area and advised them that shooting restrictions were in effect and that they needed to collect their fired brass and targets when they were done shooting. The ranger observed the trio drive to the west end of the shooting area and set up. The ranger then observed LIEBMAN shoot two different firearms, a rifle and a shotgun.
When the three were done shooting, the ranger observed them leaving the area without picking up the spent shell casings. When the ranger stopped their vehicle, he identified the occupants and learned that LIEBMAN was a convicted felon and on supervision with the Montana Department of Corrections. A probation and parole officer requested that the ranger place LIEBMAN under arrest and transport him to jail for possession of the firearms. The ranger also issued Liebman a CVB citation for littering.
The ranger collected two firearms as evidence, a Romarm S.A./Cugir 5.45 x 39 mm rifle and a Mossberg 500A 12 ga. shotgun.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LIEBMAN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LIEBMAN does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Zink prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement 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."
