FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 10, 2008
DAVID ANDREW WELLS 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 July 9, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DAVID ANDREW WELLS, a 25-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to being a felon-in-possession of firearms. Sentencing is set for October 2, 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 February 22, 2007, WELLS was convicted of felony theft. As a result of this conviction, WELLS is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On January 15, 2008, the Great Falls Police Department set up a controlled purchase of a firearm with a confidential informant (CI) who is a convicted felon. The CI gave WELLS $400 and requested a gun and explicitly thanked WELLS because "this is the only way I (the CI) can get a gun as I am a felon." The CI and WELLS traveled to a convenience store in Great Falls where WELLS was observed entering another car. WELLS returned and gave the gun to the CI as agreed and the CI thanked him again, and again mentioned he/she was a felon.
The CI then met with police officers and delivered the handgun which was identified as a Glock, Model 21, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol. The weapon was checked through NCIC and was not reported as stolen. An E-trace revealed the weapon had been purchased at Big Bear Sport Center in Great Falls on August 20, 2007, to the controlled purchase on January 15, 2008. On March 17, 2008, it was discovered that the Glock Model 21 purchased in January was stolen on January 27, 2008, from the original purchaser.
On February 19, 2008, another controlled purchase was arranged in which the same CI would give $200 to WELLS in return for a firearm. The CI traveled to WELLS' residence where a short time later WELLS showed him/her a pistol and indicated he wanted $175 for the gun. The CI told WELLS the gun wasn't worth more than $100 and WELLS said he had fired the gun and it worked fine. WELLS also advised that the actual seller of the gun wanted $175, but he would talk to him about the price.
WELLS went into his residence, returned quickly and said the seller would take $125. The pair then went to the same convenience store as before to make change to complete the sale. The CI took possession of the gun and then drove to a prearranged location to meet with police officers. The firearm was identified as a Lorcin, Model L25, .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol bearing. The gun was checked through NCIC and it was determined that the weapon had not been reported as stolen.
WELLS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kory Larsen prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
