EDWARD ANTHONY SMITH SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on August 30, 2006, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, EDWARD ANTHONY SMITH, a 27-year-old resident of Glendale, appeared for sentencing. SMITH was sentenced to a term of:

* ? Prison: 30 months, concurrent with a state sentence
* ? Special Assessment: $200
* ? Restitution: $490.60
* ? Supervised Release: 3 years

SMITH was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to identity theft and possession of stolen government mail.

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

On or about September 13, 2003, mail boxes for two businesses in Meridian, Idaho, were vandalized and the mail stolen from them.

On September 16, 2003, during a search of SMITH'S motel room Billings, checks made out to the Meridian, Idaho businesses were found, as well as other mail addressed to the businesses. The checks totaled $9,840.

Also found during the search were four separate Arizona driver's licenses with SMITH'S photograph but with the names of four different individuals. In addition, two Arizona State University identification cards with SMITH'S photograph but the names of other individuals were found.

Mail and letters addressed to nine different addresses and different individuals in Roundup, Montana, were also found during the search of SMITH'S motel room.

On or about September 11, 2003, in Glasgow, SMITH altered and then forged a check that had been reported stolen while using the identification of another person.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SMITH will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SMITH does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Billings Police Department, and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.