FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 01, 2008
MICHAEL EDWARD LAWRENCE, JR. 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 Great Falls on May 1, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, MICHAEL EDWARD LAWRENCE, JR., a 27-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense. Sentencing is set for August 18, 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:
In January of 2006, agents of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began to investigate LAWRENCE for distributing marijuana in Great Falls.
On August 16, 2006, the DCI purchased approximately one pound of marijuana from R.K. R.K. was arrested and admitted that LAWRENCE supplied the marijuana to him.
The officers then obtained a search warrant for LAWRENCE'S residence. In the residence, they recovered approximately six pounds of marijuana, $5,842 in U.S. currency, and several firearms. The firearms included a Romainia made, Model WASR-10, 7.62 x 39mm semi-automatic rifle; a Smith & Wesson, Model 629-1, .44-magnum 6-shot revolver; and a Browning, Model Buckmark, .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The .44 caliber pistol was found in a duffle bag which contained multiple pounds of marijuana.
When interviewed following the search, admitted that during a time period which included August, 2006, he distributed marijuana through two "runners," including R.K. LAWRENCE stated that he would give ounces of marijuana to R.K., who would then distribute the marijuana to lower level customers. R.K. would return the money from the sales to LAWRENCE.
LAWRENCE stated that he feared that a particular individual would rob his marijuana, so he obtained the .22 caliber pistol and the .44 caliber pistol to protect his drugs from such a robbery. LAWRENCE further stated that he put the .44 caliber pistol in with the marijuana as part of that plan.
LAWRENCE faces possible penalties of a minimum mandatory 5 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 prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
