The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Dec. 1 was:
Dillon James Wippert, 26, of East Glacier and Washington, on charges of second degree murder and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Wippert faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the murder crime and a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearms crime. Wippert was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-74.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 30 was:
Richard Daniel White, 35, of Butte, on charges of prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, White faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. White was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Probation and Parole and Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement. PACER case reference. 21-40.
Appearing on Nov. 29 was:
Chet Norman Andersen, 44, of Bozeman, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Andersen faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Andersen was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-36.
Lassana Diaby, 40, of Missoula, on charges of theft of mail by officer or employee. If convicted of the most serious crime, Diaby faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Diaby was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-51.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 3 was:
John Aaron Champ, 41, of Crow Agency, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Champ faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Champ was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-70.
Appearing on Nov. 30 was:
Erik Stephen Deaner, 46, of Billings, on charges of theft from federal firearm licensee, possession of stolen firearms and prohibited person in possession of firearms. If convicted of the most serious crime, Deaner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Deaner was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-96.
Denise Danielle Piccione, 37, a transient, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime Piccione faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Piccione was released pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-25.
Cecil Jerome Hatchett, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada, on charges of conspiracy to transport a minor with intent to engage in prostitution. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hatchett faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hatchett was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case.PACER case reference. 21-41.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
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