Source: Office of United States Attorneys
GREAT FALLS – A Seattle man accused of distributing drugs on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation appeared yesterday for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Jesse James Cochran, 31, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime charged in the indictment, Cochran faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a maximum term of 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, and at least four years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. Cochran was released pending further proceedings.
Count one of the indictment alleges that on or about October 2022, and June 2024, in and near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, the Cochran knowingly and unlawfully conspired with his co-defendant to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of methamphetamine. Count two alleges that on or about October 2022, and June 2024, in and near Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Cochran knowingly and unlawfully possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or ore of fentanyl and aided and abetted the same.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers is prosecuting the case. The Tri-Agency Task Force conducted the investigation.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
PACER case reference. 24-92.
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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