BILLINGS — A Billings felon who was arrested by Billings police officers while searching for two escaped jail inmates admitted to illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jeffrey Follett pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm as charged in an indictment. Follett faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least three years of supervised release.
The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 12, 2022, Billings Police Department officers were looking for two escaped inmates from the Yellowstone County Detention Facility and received information that the inmates were hiding at an apartment building on South 27th Street. A passenger car approached the east side of the apartment complex, and four persons left the apartment and got into the car. Two of the persons matched the description of the escapees. Police attempted a traffic stop on the car, but it fled. Officers performed a maneuver in which they pinned the car near an intersection. Follet was in the rear passenger side of the car and got out holding a pistol. Officers ordered Follet to drop the gun. Officers saw Follet drop the gun behind his back and run north on the sidewalk. Officers chased and arrested Follet. Follet was on Montana state supervision for a felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The firearm was a loaded, 9mm pistol.
