The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared recently before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints.
Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on January 2 was Jeffrey Thomas Maki, 40, of Billings, on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Maki faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, five years of supervised release on the bank fraud charge and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on the identity theft charge.
Maki was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
Appearing on December 23, 2024, was Ricardo Alberto Salazar Contreras, 33, unknown residence, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Contreras faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four 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 firearm charge.
Contreras was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, FBI and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on December 30, 2024, was Felipe Michael Garza, 31, of Washington, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Garza 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 in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Garza was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.Â
