Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on February 24, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, ANTONIO LAMONT STUMP, a 28-year-old resident of Bismarck, North Dakota, pled guilty to the sale of a stolen firearm. Sentencing is set for May 28, 2009.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In late September of 2008, while shopping at a consignment shop in Havre, an individual noticed his missing Llama 9 mm pistol was displayed for sale. Earlier that month, the individual had learned that his pistol had been stolen.

The individual had left his pistol with his girlfriend's brother in March or April of 2008 because there had been several home burglaries in the neighborhood.

In July of 2008, the girlfriend's brother noticed that the gun was missing from the dresser drawer where he had hidden it. He had not given or loaned the gun to anyone, so believed it was stolen. STUMP had been visiting the family on the Rocky Boy Reservation during the summer of 2008.

The owner of the consignment shop identified STUMP as the person who sold the Llama 9 mm pistol. The owner provided a copy of the sales receipt signed by STUMP and listing STUMP as the seller to law enforcement.

STUMP faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebekah J. French prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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