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Jesse Laslovich U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana

Helena man receives over seven-year sentence for firearm offense

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A Helena man, Scott Hamilton, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for a firearm-related crime. The sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.

Hamilton, 44, admitted guilt in October 2024 to the charge of receiving a firearm and ammunition with the intent to commit a felony. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case.

Court documents revealed that on December 20, 2023, law enforcement officers stopped Hamilton during a welfare check on Montana Highway 12. He was wearing dark clothing and carrying a duffel bag at the time. Hamilton informed officers he was experiencing car trouble and was walking towards East Helena. Officers discovered an active warrant for his arrest from Broadwater County.

As officers attempted to detain him, Hamilton fled across the highway, dropping his duffel bag in the process. After pursuing and apprehending him, officers recovered two firearms—a .22 caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol—and numerous rounds of ammunition from the bag. Due to prior felony convictions, Hamilton was prohibited from possessing firearms.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, enhancing PSN's core principles: fostering community trust and legitimacy; supporting organizations that prevent violence; setting strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring results.

For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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