U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has announced recent arraignments before U.S. Magistrate judges based on indictments from the Grand Jury or criminal complaints. It is important to note that these charging documents are accusations, and defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
On December 5, Artemus Lavelle Brock, 35, from Bozeman appeared in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan. Brock pleaded not guilty to charges of coercion and enticement to travel for prostitution and transportation for prostitution. If convicted of the most serious offense, Brock could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The investigation was conducted by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Billings Police Department.
John Doe, also known as Jose Alfredo Collazo Nadal from Billings, appeared on December 3 on charges related to making a false statement in a passport application. If found guilty of the most serious charge, Doe faces up to 10 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. The Diplomatic Secret Service carried out the investigation.
Cody Lloyd Smith, 41, from Billings appeared on November 26 facing charges as a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A conviction on the most serious charge could result in up to 15 years imprisonment alongside a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for Smith. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives together with Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police Department.
For those interested in tracking these cases' progressions through the U.S. District Court Calendar or PACER system can do so online at http://www.pacer.gov/register.html or https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
