Gun Laws And 2a
East Helena Man Convicted of Illegal Firearm and Ammunition Possession
Federal jury finds Montana man guilty of violating firearm prohibition tied to prior felony conviction
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Great Falls, Montana
A federal jury in Great Falls, Montana, has convicted 43-year-old Justin Curtis Huckaby of East Helena on two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The verdict, announced by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, follows a two-day trial that examined Huckabys repeated violations of restrictions stemming from an earlier felony conviction. Court records show Huckaby was convicted of a felony in the Montana Thirteenth Judicial District on June 5, 2019, and sentenced to a term of custody of up to 15 years, with five years suspended, followed by supervised release. As a condition of his supervision, Huckaby was explicitly prohibited from using, owning, possessing, transferring, or controlling any firearms or ammunition. These restrictions were not only set forth in his judgment but were also read to him in open court. On June 13, 2023, Huckaby signed a Firearms and Voting Regulations form that reiterated federal law under Title 18, U.S. Code Section 922(g)(1), which makes it illegal for a convicted felon to possess or receive firearms or ammunition. He also signed his probation and parole conditions, which specifically barred the use or possession of any firearms, ammunitionincluding black powderor weapons. Despite these clear prohibitions, law enforcement encountered Huckaby on August 5, 2024, around 4 a.m. at a casino in East Helena. Officers responding to reports that he had drugs and a firearm in his vehicle found Huckaby seated in a white Chevrolet pickup outside the establishment. While Huckaby admitted to being on parole, he denied having anything in the truck that violated his conditions. Officers observed a glass pipe with burnt residue on the console, which later tested positive for methamphetamine. A probation search of the vehicle was then authorized. The search uncovered a loaded 9mm handgun under the rear passenger seat and a box of 9mm ammunition in a backpack. Huckaby admitted to handling the firearm earlier that day. Further evidence showed he had threatened to shoot an individual he suspected of stealing drugs and gambling winnings from him earlier in the evening. These findings reinforced the conclusion that Huckaby had knowingly violated both state supervision rules and federal law. The conviction carries significant potential penalties. Huckaby faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the trial and will determine Huckabys sentence on January 8, 2026, after considering federal sentencing guidelines and statutory factors. Until then, Huckaby remains in custody. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Montana and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, and the State of Montana Probation and Parole. It falls under the Department of Justices Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that coordinates resources from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to combat violent crime, cartel activity, and illegal firearm possession. This conviction highlights the ongoing enforcement of federal prohibitions on firearm ownership by individuals with felony records. The case illustrates how prior convictions, combined with explicit supervision conditions, create a clear legal framework that courts and law enforcement continue to apply rigorously. For communities, it demonstrates the intersection of firearms violations with substance abuse and threats of violencefactors that elevate the risks associated with illegal possession.