FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 28, 2008
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENTS
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on February 28, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:
GARY EUGENE RADI, a 63-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared on charges of making fraudulent claims for federal income tax refunds. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, RADI faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release on each count. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
BRENDA LEE McDOUGALL, a 40-year-old resident of Browning, appeared on charges of theft and bank fraud. She is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, McDOUGALL faces possible penalties of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
DONALD MELVIN HENSLEY, a resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of failure to register as a sexual offender. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, HENSELY faces possible penalties of 10 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. Marshals Service.
JAMES LEE BROWN, a 44-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of counterfeiting. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BROWN faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between U.S. Secret Service and the Great Falls Police Department.
MARTIN JAY HOPE, a 47-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm/armed career criminal. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, HOPE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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.
