Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

BILLINGS — A Lame Deer man who admitted sexually abusing a minor and assaulting his partner on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in two separate cases was sentenced on Wednesday to a total of three years and one day in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

David Benjamin Wick, Sr., 44, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to sexual abuse of a minor and in January, he pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial injury to a spouse, dating or intimate partner.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court sentenced Wick to two years in prison on the charge of sexual abuse of a minor and to one year and a day on the assault charge, to run consecutive to the sexual abuse sentence.

In court documents, the government alleged that in 2019, Wick, then 39, had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Wick and the girl had connected through Facebook, and Wick invited her to his trailer to drink alcohol. Wick was charged federally sexual abuse of a minor and released on conditions. In January 2023, Wick assaulted his partner after becoming upset and accusing her of cheating on him. Wick kicked his partner and repeatedly struck her in the face and head while calling her names. The victim was treated for significant trauma.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.

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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine as part of large-scale, multi-state conspiracy that was based on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to a drug crime on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Sayra Longfox, 26, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Longfox faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 29. Longfox was released pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, federal law enforcement conducted a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations. Longfox is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation.

The government further alleged that several co-conspirators identified Longfox as selling meth on the Northern Cheyenne, Crow, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Indian reservations. After her arrest, Longfox told investigators that family members asked her to sell drugs beginning in the summer of 2022 and that she sold from her home at Spear Siding and on the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s reservations. She admitted to getting meth and cocaine from a codefendant, who obtained it from the Washington source of supply, and to obtaining meth and cocaine from the Washington source. Longfox also admitted to carrying a 9mm handgun for protection.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.

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.

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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for sexually abusing a teenage girl he lured through social media to his isolated home on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jonathan Ray Gonsalez, 40, pleaded guilty in January to sexual abuse.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 3, 2023, Gonsalez initiated contact with the victim, a 16-year-old identified as Jane Doe, though Facebook Messenger and ultimately lured the victim to his home through comments. Jane Doe arrived at Gonsalez’s residence, which was isolated, around 10 p.m. A short time later, Jane Doe got scared and wanted to leave, but the temperature was below freezing. Jane Doe asked Gonsalez to have someone pick her up and fell asleep while waiting for the ride. Jane Doe awoke to Gonsalez sexually abusing her. After he was done, Jane Doe left the residence and called 911 for help. A Rocky Boy’s Police Department officer found Jane Doe and picked her up on the road near Gonsalez’s residence.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Myers and Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department conducted the investigation.

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Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

BILLINGS — A Washington woman who admitted to working as a translator and helping a co-defendant sell meth in a large trafficking scheme based on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Mariana Tyler Wallace, 23, of Okanogan, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, engaged in a large-scale, multiple-state, narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of methamphetamine for both Crow and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Wallace is one of the individuals affiliated with that investigation.

The investigation determined that Wallace and co-conspirator 1 were involved in selling meth and fentanyl from a property known as the Bloodman residence, which was near the Spear Siding property. Co-conspirators from Washington lived at the Bloodman house to distribute and protect the meth. These co-conspirators spoke Spanish and required others to translate to communicate with customers. Wallace came to Montana in February/March 2023 and worked as a translator for co-conspirator 1 to sell meth to multiple individuals who visited the residence. Wallace also sold meth. Wallace was considered to be in the lower to mid-level of the conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.

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.

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