Poplar woman receives prison sentence for false statements in robbery investigation

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

Poplar woman receives prison sentence for false statements in robbery investigation

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A Poplar woman has been sentenced to nine months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for making false statements to federal law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentencing of Annie Lee Kirn, 27, who pleaded guilty in January 2025.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case. Court documents reveal that on November 21, 2023, Kirn returned with an elderly friend to his residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation when two men broke into the home armed with an assault rifle. The intruders assaulted the homeowner and another man while demanding money and access to a wall safe.

During an interview with federal law enforcement officers, Kirn claimed she saw the robbers outside before the incident and one attempted to grab her. She reported seeing a gun and being told by one of the armed men to run before he fired several shots.

Surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement showed a car with five people following Kirn’s truck into the yard. Two men approached the house as Kirn exited her vehicle, and they discussed her relationship with the homeowner along with details about cash and a safe location. At one point, Kirn handled a rifle handed to her by one of the armed men.

In September 2024, during a follow-up interview regarding that night, Kirn denied handling any firearm or having conversations with the robbers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted this case which was investigated by multiple agencies including FBI, ATF, and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement levels and communities served. The program focuses on fostering trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

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

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