Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on September 8, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JOHNNY D. LAMBERT, age 26, pled guilty to possession of stolen firearms. Sentencing is set for December 9, 2009. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Zink, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

As of July 7, 2008, LAMBERT was under indictment for felony theft in Yellowstone County. While under charges, he entered Western Pawnbrokers in Billings on multiple occasions and stole firearms.

On July 15, 2008, an employee called the Billings Police Department and reported the theft of two shotguns. The clerk identified LAMBERT from a photo-lineup as the suspect. A detective checked pawn transaction records for the serial numbers from the stolen guns. He discovered that LAMBERT pawned three stolen firearms at another pawn shop, between July 11th and July 15th.

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

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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

 

 

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