FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 12, 2008
BRENDA McDOUGAL 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 Helena on May 9, 2008, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, BRENDA MCDOUGAL, a 41-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to theft and bank fraud. Sentencing is set for September 18, 2008.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
From May 26, 2005, to September 19, 2005, McDOUGAL stole $61,638.64 from an individual in Browning.
On December 4, 2005, McDOUGAL sent a letter to the individual in which she admitted she had stolen the above-referenced funds.
McDOUGAL paid back $5,000 on March 3, 2006, and $10,000 on August 11, 2006, leaving the total restitution still owing at $46,638.64.
McDOUGAL faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Browning.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
