BILLINGS - Terry Lee Feller, a 58 year-old resident of Billings was sentenced today to 33 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters handed down the sentence.
The case arose when Feller, a career thief with more than fifteen convictions dating back to 1983, was released from state prison in April 2015 and moved into a home in the 4200 block of Arden Ave. Shortly thereafter, homes in the neighborhood were burglarized. One the burglary victims confronted Feller’s landlord who told the victim that she had noticed Feller bringing several items into the home and she did not know where the items came from. The landlord allowed the neighbor/victim to search the home and she discovered several items of her missing property in a bedroom used by Feller. The neighbor/victim contacted Billings Police Department. When law enforcement arrived, they searched the home as well as a car that Feller was using. The search uncovered a stolen 9 millimeter pistol. Feller later admitted to law enforcement that he possessed the pistol and he knew it was stolen.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes and investigated by the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
