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Press Release

Information: Federal Court Arraignments

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that those persons listed below were arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate and the indictments handed down by the Grand Jury unsealed.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Ostby in Billings on May 9, 2016 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

  • JAMES EVERETT KAMMINGA, JR., a 33-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.  If convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, KAMMINGA faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines, and  5 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the HIDTA Task Force.  PACER Case Reference. 16-50
  • ZACHARY JAMES LOZIER, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment, and possession of stolen firearms.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, LOZIER faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  PACER Case Reference. 15-67

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on May 5, 2016 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

  • LOIS ANN POTTER, a 57-year-old resident of Box Elder, appeared on charges of harboring a fugitive, and false statements to federal law enforcement.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, POTTER faces 5 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.  PACER Case Reference. 16-29

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on May 3, 2016 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

  • SHELLY DAWN PYEATT a 46-year-old resident of Melrose, appeared on charges of misappropriation of postal funds, and issuance of money orders without payments.  If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, PYEATT faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General.  PACER Case Reference. 16-13

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Ostby in Billings on April 29, 2016 and entering pleas of Not Guilty were:

  • RANDY SCOTT LAEDEKE, a 59-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of wire fraud.  If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, LAEDEKE faces 20 years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and 3 years supervised release.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  PACER Case Reference. 16-33

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 so that you stay current and not miss any important developments in the case.

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.

Updated May 13, 2016

Press Release Number: MELISSA HORNBEIN, Public Information Officer, (406) 457-5277