NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2003

CONTACT:

William W. Mercer United States Attorney for the District of Montana (406) 247-4639

 

 

 

APOLLO ACKERMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT

       Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 9, 2003, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, APOLLO ACKERMAN, age 25, pled guilty to charges of possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

       In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would prove at trial that on December 6, 2001, Fort Peck Tribal Officer Fourbear conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle belonging to ACKERMAN. Officer Fourbear arrested ACKERMAN based on a tribal domestic abuse warrant and conducted a search of his vehicle. During the search, officer Fourbear recovered a National Firearms Act weapon made from a break-open, .410 caliber shotgun from under the driver's seat of ACKERMAN'S vehicle. The stop occurred at Frazer, Montana.

       On December 6, 2001, Fort Peck Tribal Criminal Investigator (CI) Tom Atkinson, Jr., Poplar, Montana, advised ACKERMAN of his legal rights using a Federal Document (FD) 395, Advice of Rights form. ACKERMAN waived his rights and confessed he purchased the firearm for $15.00 in its altered condition.

       On February 21, 2002, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Special Agent Greg Ruehle test-fired the firearm possessed by ACKERMAN. The Boito, single-shot, break-open .410 caliber shotgun, serial number 375382, was operational and functioned as designed. The shotgun had a barrel length of 12 inches and an overall length of 18.5 inches. ACKERMAN is a resident of Frazer.

       He faces possible penalties of ten years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine and three years supervised release.

       Assistant U.S. Attorney Klaus Richter prosecuted the case for the United States.

       The investigative agency was the Fort Peck Criminal Investigations Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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