Informational: Federal Court arraignments

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 beyond a reasonable doubt:

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on July 18 was:

Michael James Merzlak, 37, of Butte, on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Merzlak faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years to life of supervised release. Merzlak was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office, Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Forensic Science Division and Idaho State Police conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-19.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on July 16 was:

Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 22, of Pray, on charges of possession of an unregistered destructive device. If convicted of the most serious crime, Lewis faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Lewis was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Park County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-143.

Kristopher Mikal Wright, 36, of Cody, Wyoming, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, assault on a federal officer, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serous crime, Wright faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years of supervised release on the conspiracy charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of possessing a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Wright was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-93.

Jessie Craig Iverson, 37, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Iverson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the charge of possessing a firearm charge. Iverson was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.PACER case reference. 24-90.

Lindsey Whitewolf, 35, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Whitewolf faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Whitewolf was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Inspection and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-34.

Jacob Charles Berger, 27, of Billings, on charges of possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm while under indictment and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Berger faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Berger was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-82.

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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