Montana Federal Court Report: Vehicular Manslaughter and More

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - In Great Falls Federal Court, a Browning man who admitted to striking a woman with his vehicle and killing her in 2021 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jordan Joseph Morgan, 31, pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter.

A Great Falls Federal Court Case Involved Vehicular Manslaughter

In a plea agreement in the case, the parties agreed that a specific recommendation of 12 months and one day imprisonment was appropriate.

In court documents, the government alleged that on the evening of Nov. 8, 2021, Morgan encountered the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was known to him, in Browning. The two argued. Morgan got into his vehicle, while Jane Doe stayed by the open window at Morgan’s door. Morgan pulled forward with Jane Doe still at his door and holding onto the open window. After a short distance, the vehicle pulled to the right, throwing Jane Doe under the vehicle. Morgan continued driving and ran over Jane Doe.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $10,600 in restitution.

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There were 2 Separate Cases Involving Methamphetamine Trafficking in Billings

In Billings Federal Court, a Billings man convicted by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine after investigators intercepted a package containing the drug hidden in false bottom cans was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

After a two-day trial that began on July 10, the jury found Shane Edward Johnson, 54, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that from about April 2020 until October 2021, Johnson, who has a prior federal drug conviction, conspired to distribute meth in the Laurel and Billings communities. In October 2021, law enforcement intercepted a package shipped through the U.S. Postal Service from California to Laurel. Officers executed a search warrant on the package and found two pounds of meth inside four plastic candles. A co-defendant took possession of the package in a controlled delivery. Law enforcement converged on the residence to execute a search warrant and encountered Johnson and the co-defendant. Agents located a backpack, belonging to Johnson, that contained baggies of meth, a digital scale, approximately $1,000 and two loaded handgun magazines. Johnson was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his prior felony conviction.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie R. Patten and Zeno B. Baucus prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Service, FBI West, Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

This Case Involved Both Methamphetamine and Firearms

Also in Billings Federal Court, two Busby residents convicted of methamphetamine and firearms crimes after the drug and guns were found in a vehicle in which they were traveling were sentenced to prison terms today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jamesey Maria Jefferson, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.

Co-defendant Ivan Eaglefeathers, 21, was sentenced to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Both defendants pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In court documents, the government alleged that on Sept. 12, 2021 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, law enforcement officers stopped a car that had run two stop signs, was traveling at a high rate of speed and was believed to have been seen at an earlier shooting. Officers detained Jefferson, Eaglefeathers and two others who were in the car. A federal search warrant was served on the car, and officers found approximately 48 grams of meth, $2,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, ammunition and three firearms. The guns were a .17-caliber rifle, an AR-style 5.56mm rifle and a 9mm handgun. Jefferson admitted to investigators that she possessed the meth, the .17-caliber rifle and the 9mm handgun. A video of Eaglefeathers and a co-defendant shows Eaglefeathers outside of the vehicle on the same day with a gun in his hand. Eaglefeathers admitted to having one of the rifles in the car and to having shot it in the air.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.