FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
HAROLD HOPPE 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 December 3, 2008, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, HAROLD HOPPE, age 25, appeared for sentencing. HOPPE was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 14 months
- Special Assessment: $200
- Supervised Release: 3 years
HOPPE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of stolen firearms and theft of firearms from a federal licensee.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On March 31, 2008, HOPPE began working at MT Sports, a federally licensed firearms dealer, at the wholesale level. HOPPE began to work in the warehouse stocking firearms as a temporary employee.
On March 31, 2008, HOPPE logged into the computer system to stock several handguns. According to the computer system, HOPPE reported to have stocked ten model R35202 revolvers.
On April 9, 2008, another employee found one box to be empty when the employee retrieved the item to be transferred. The firearm that was supposed to be in the container a Rossi, Model R35202, .38 special caliber revolver. The firearm was reported stolen and an investigation began. Over succeeding days, additional firearms were reported stolen as well, including a Smith and Wesson, SWV40VE, .40 S&W caliber semi-automatic handgun and an FNH, FNP9, 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
On April 16, 2008, ATF agents interviewed personnel from MT Sports and HOPPE was identified as a suspect in the theft of multiple handguns. Investigation of computer logs confirmed HOPPE'S presence and access to the stolen guns. Agents went to residences looking for HOPPE. They did not find him, but they did find evidence that indicated HOPPE had the stolen firearms, including pictures. As they continued to look for HOPPE, agents were led to another residence where they discovered bags and other items belonging to HOPPE. They executed a search warrant and recovered two of the stolen firearms, the Rossi and the FNH 9mm. The agents later recovered the Smith & Wesson from a witness.
On April 18, 2008, HOPPE contacted the Billings ATF Field Office. HOPPE indicated he would agree to be interviewed. When interviewed, HOPPE admitted taking the .38 caliber Rossi revolver and the 9mm FNH handgun from MT Sports. Additionally, HOPPE admitted that he received the .40 caliber Smith and Wesson firearm from another person and he believed this gun was also stolen from MT Sports.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HOPPE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HOPPE does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Zink prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Billings Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws. In Montana, the effort under PSN is called "Catch and No Release."
