Date: 03-05-2020

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:18-cr-00058-SPW

Judge: Suan P. Watters

Court: United States District Court for the District of Montana (Yellowstone County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Colin Rubich and Julie Patten

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description: Billings, MT - The United States of America charged Maurice Joseph Fregia with distributing meth and felony possession of a firearm

A jury on Tuesday convicted a Billings man accused of bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to the community for redistribution and possessing firearms to further the crime.

The jury found Maurice Joseph Fregia, 33, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Fregia faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug crimes and a mandatory consecutive five years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm possession crime.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. Sentencing is set for July 23. Fregia was detained.

“Meth dealers with firearms are causing violence in our communities and pushing Montanans toward addiction. We will continue to prosecute dealers like Fregia and his co-conspirators to the full extent of the law. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten, along with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the FBI and the Billings Police Department for their good work investigating and prosecuting this case,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.

The prosecution presented evidence at trial that Fregia, along with co-defendant Chad Beres, headed a large drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of meth and other drugs into Montana from California. In April 2018, law enforcement officers with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force served three search warrants on three Billings residences, including a house where Fregia and Beres lived. Both Fregia and Beres were present during the search. Officers found almost 700 grams of meth, which is about 1.5 pounds and about 5,600 doses, sticking out of a clothes dryer vent, $14,538 in currency, jewelry, including a Rolex watch in Beres’ room, other drugs and various firearms and ammunition. Beres pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

During the search of a second residence, occupied by co-defendant Larry Barnett, agents found meth and a handgun. Barnett, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, admitted he had received multiple pounds of meth from Fregia and Beres and had seen both men with firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the FBI and the Billings Police Department.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

21:846=CD.F CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE.
(1)
21:841A=CD.F POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE and 18:2 AIDING AND ABETTING.
(2)
18:924C.F POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN FURTHERANCE OF A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME and 21:853(a)(1) and (2) and 18:924(d) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.
(3)

Outcome: 03/03/2020 183 Proposed Jury Instructions Supplemental Jury Instructions by USA as to Maurice Fregia (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Clean Copy) (Rubich, Colin) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 184 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge Susan P. Watters: JURY TRIAL DAY 2 as to Maurice Fregia held on 3/3/2020. Out of jurys presence with all counsel and dft present. Judge addresses defense counsels motion to strike testimony of James Eddleman. Judge DENIES with explanation of her ruling. Defense counsel moves for a Rule 29; arguments made. Judge DENIES. Jury excused and in court for the settling of jury instructions. Back in court with jury present; Judge reads final jury instructions; closings by both counsel. Clerk picks alternate from wooden wheel. Alternate thanked and excused. Bailiffs come forward and clerk administers the oath. Bailiffs escort jury back to start their deliberations at 11:40 am. 2:02 pm jury has a note. Counsel and dft into the court to discuss the note. Answer to the jury and they continue with their deliberations. Jury has reached a verdict at 2:46 pm. Jury brought back into the courtroom with counsel and dft. Clerk publishes the verdict. Dft found GUILTY on counts 1-3. Both counsel stipulate to have the court decide the forfeiture allegation. Jury thanked and excused. PSR ordered and sentencing set for 7/23/2020 at 9:30 am. Dft is remanded to the custody of USMS.Hearing commenced at 9:02 am and concluded at 2:53 pm (Court Reporter Becky Sabo) (Law Clerk: J. Wolff), (Hearing held in Billings-SMC) (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 185 UNREDACTED JURY VERDICT as to Maurice Fregia (1) GUILTY on Count 1,2,3. (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 186 UNREDACTED JURY VERDICT (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 187 GOVERNMENT WITNESS LIST (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 188 JERS EXHIBIT LIST WITH ADMITTED EXHIBITS ATTACHED as to Maurice Fregia (Attachments: # 1 Gov't Exhibit List, # 2 Admitted exhibits scanned in as one PDF 1-20) (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 189 FINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS as to Maurice Fregia (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 190 WITHDRAWN JURY INSTRUCTIONS as to Maurice Fregia (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 191 JURY LIST WITH CHALLENGES and alternate as to Maurice Fregia (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 192 JURY NOTES as to Maurice Fregia (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
03/03/2020 193 ORDER SETTING SENTENCING as to Maurice Fregia Sentencing set for 7/23/2020 at 09:30 AM in Billings, MT before Judge Susan P. Watters. Signed by Judge Susan P. Watters on 3/3/2020. (AMC) (Entered: 03/03/2020)

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