FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 22, 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 April 22, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:
ANTHONY BOOK, a 31-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BOOK faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
DEAMARR FAYE DAWN RUTHERFORD, a 43-year-old resident of Browning, appeared on a charge of distribution of methamphetamine in a public housing facility. She is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, RUTHERFORD faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 1 year in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $1,000,000 fine and 6 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Blackfeet Safe Trails Drug Task Force.
MARTHA ANN BRIESKE, a 39-year-old resident of Shelby, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. She is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BRIESKE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Tri-Agency Safe Trails Drug Task Force.
BRICE HUTTINGER, a 35-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of being an armed career criminal and distribution of marijuana. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, HUTTINGER faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Great Falls.
MARK HEGEL, a 49-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. He is currently detained on special conditions. If convicted of this charge, HEGEL faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Central Montana Drug Task Force and 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.
