INFORMATIONAL: Federal Court Arraignments

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Cavan and pleading not guilty on November 15:

• John Jay Dudik, 66, of Billings on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious crime, Dudik faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10,000,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release.  Dudik was detained pending further proceedings.  The case  was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Pacer case reference.  19-105.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Johnston and pleading not guilty on November 14:

• Jordan Alexander Werk, 31, of Fort Belknap, on charges of assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury and strangulation.  If convicted of the most serious crime, Werk faces 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  Werk was detained pending further proceedings.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services.  Pacer case reference.  19-82.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate DeSoto and pleading not guilty on November 14:

• Rigonaldo Diaz Chixna, 25, of Mexico, on charges of illegal reentry.  If convicted of the most serious crime, Chixna faces two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  Chixna was detained pending further proceedings.  The case was investigated by Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  Pacer case reference.  19-26

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Johnston and pleading not guilty on November 12:

• Shawn Andrew Andersen, 42, of Cut Bank, on charges of advertisement of child pornography, attempted distribution and receipt of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.  If convicted of the most serious crime, Andersen faces life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release.  Andersen was detained pending further proceedings.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Pacer case reference.  19-79.

• Katie Lynn Big Bow, 44, of Box Elder, on charges of assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon.  If convicted of the most serious crime, Big Bow faces 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  Big Bow was detained pending further proceedings.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services.  Pacer case reference.  19-80.

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Cavan and pleading not guilty on November 12:

• William James Watson, 40, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of firearm during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Watson faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10,000,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Watson was detained pending further proceedings. The case was investigated by the FBI West Task Force. Pacer case reference. 19-142.

If any of the above cases are of interest to your media organization and the community it serves, we encourage you to monitor the progress of the case regularly through the U.S. District Court calendar and the PACER system.

To establish a PACER account, which will allow you to review documents filed in the case, please go to, http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the district court’s calendar, please go to https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.