FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
JOSEPH DEAN BERGIE PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on April 23, 2008, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, JOSEPH DEAN BERGIE, a 41-year-old resident of Billings and Great Falls, pled guilty to escape. Sentencing is set for July 30, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On January 30, 2003, BERGIE was sentenced to 87 months following a conviction for distribution of methamphetamine in the U.S. District in Great Falls. BERGIE'S projected release date from the Bureau of Prisons was May 25, 2008.
Under the guidelines and direction of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, BERGIE was serving the last months of his sentence at Alternatives, Inc. in Billings.
On February 4, 2008, the United States Marshals Service in Billings was informed by Alternatives, Inc. that BERGIE had failed to return to the facility after work at 6:00 p.m. as required by his custody status. BERGIE was ultimately apprehended on February 26, 2008 in Roosevelt County.
BERGIE faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
