Travis Colby Fuchs Sentenced in U.S. District Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 28, 2013 |
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on February 28, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, Travis Colby Fuchs, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. Fuchs was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 72 months
- Special assessment: $200
- Restitution: $1,915.00
- Supervised release: five years
Fuchs was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and uttering counterfeit obligations and securities.
In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Fuchs was identified by law enforcement as a member of a methamphetamine distribution organization in Yellowstone County in 2010. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Fuchs from December 2010 to January 2011. During the ATF controlled purchases, Fuchs sold the following amounts of methamphetamine to cooperating individuals on the following dates:
- December 19, 2010: a cooperating individual purchased an 1/8 of an ounce of methamphetamine from Fuchs in Billings (3.2 grams actual with 91.5 percent purity).
- January 5, 2011: a cooperating individual purchased eight grams of methamphetamine (94.0 percent purity/6.5 grams actual) from Fuchs in Billings.
- January 7, 2011: a cooperating individual purchased 30 grams of methamphetamine (93.8 percent purity/25.1 grams actual) from Fuchs in Billings.
- January 11, 2011: a cooperating individual purchased 29 grams of methamphetamine (90.4 percent purity/25.2 grams actual) from Fuchs in Billings.
- January 24, 2011: a cooperating individual purchased 86.3 grams of methamphetamine (67.8 percent purity/18.9 grams actual) from Fuchs in Billings.
In addition to Fuchs’ drug distribution, he also manufactured and passed counterfeit United States currency in the Billings area from January 2012 until March 2012. The counterfeit money consisted of multiple serial numbers. Law enforcement received approximately $800 in counterfeit money passed, primarily in Billings. An additional $2,765 was seized from a motel room, which was occupied by Fuchs. Further investigation developed that Fuchs was responsible for the manufacturing of the counterfeit notes. Fuchs was interviewed and admitted to manufacturing and passing counterfeit notes. Associates of Fuchs have also identified him as the individual responsible for manufacturing the counterfeit notes. The total amount of counterfeit notes seized and passed to date is $3,945.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the “truth in sentencing” guidelines mandate that Fuchs will likely serve all the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Fuchs does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for “good behavior.” However, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.