U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
A Thompson Falls resident, James Vernon Day, Jr., has been sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for firearms-related offenses. The 56-year-old, with prior federal felony convictions, will also face three years of supervised release and a $20,000 fine.
Day pleaded guilty in September 2024 to charges of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case.
According to court documents, Day's criminal history includes federal convictions in Montana for firearm possession in 2004 and illegal sale of outfitted mountain lion hunts in 2018. He also has state felony convictions from Montana and Idaho.
In December 2023, Sanders County Sheriff's Office deputies executed a search warrant at Day's property for stolen vehicle parts. During the search, deputies discovered numerous firearms despite Day's attempts to prevent entry into his residence. Among the firearms found was a .222-caliber rifle with an illegally shortened barrel.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside local sheriff's offices from Sanders County and Lincoln County.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. For more information about PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
