Travis Colby Fuchs Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 29, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, Travis Colby Fuchs, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and uttering counterfeit obligations and securities. Sentencing has been set for February 28, 2013. He is currently detained.

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.

Fuchs faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine, and five years’ supervised release.

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.