Informational: Federal Court Arraignments
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 17, 2011 |
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls on March 17, 2011, before Senior U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Holter, the following individuals were arraigned:
HUSSEIN ABDI HASSAN, a 24-year-old resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, appeared on charges of false information and hoaxes. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, HASSAN faces possible penalties of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan R. Whittaker is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
MARSHALL THOMAS PLUMAGE, a 34-year-old resident of Phoenix, Arizona, appeared on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, PLUMAGE faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danna Jackson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.