Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls on April 5, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:

COLIN DAVID BARR-DION, a 22-year-old resident of Havre, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, BARR-DION 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 Michael T. Wolfe is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force.

DEEANNA EDWARD CASSIDY, a 44-year-old resident of Browning, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. CASSIDY is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, CASSIDY 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 Michael T. Wolfe is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Montana Division of Criminal 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.