Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 4, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:

ANDREW JAMES PETEK, a 31-year-old resident of Livingston, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, PETEK faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least four years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

CHASE ALLYN RAYNOCK, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, RAYNOCK faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least four years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

TERRA CHESAREK, a 37-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. She is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, CHESAREK faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least four years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

ROBERT EARL REED, a 34-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, REED faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least four years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

EDWARD ALVIN WHITE, II, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of these charges, WHITE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least four years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.