Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on December 20, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:

HOWARD JAY BONIFANT, a 26-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BONIFANT faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and five years’ supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

THADDEUS CLINTON JONES, a 35-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, appeared on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, JONES faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and five years’ supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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.