The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reported that several individuals were arraigned this week in federal court on various charges. The defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate judges following indictments by the Grand Jury or criminal complaints, with all parties presumed innocent until proven guilty.

In Missoula, Jerod John Chambers, aged 35 from Miles City, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on December 13. Chambers pleaded not guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. If convicted of the most serious offense, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and three years of supervised release. Chambers remains detained as proceedings continue. The investigation was carried out by the Miles City Police Department, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On December 10 in Billings, Jeremy Allen Malloy, 42, also entered a plea of not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan. Malloy is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Conviction on the most serious charge could result in a mandatory minimum sentence ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. Malloy is currently detained pending further legal proceedings. His case was investigated by the Billings Police Department and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

Case progress can be tracked via the U.S District Court Calendar and PACER system for those interested in monitoring developments or accessing filed documents electronically.