Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Illegal Firearm Possession in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who was already prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior felony conviction was found guilty Tuesday of illegally possessing guns and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced.

Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Ian Allister Tomlinson, 45, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris will determine sentencing after considering federal guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17 in Great Falls. Tomlinson remains released on conditions pending further proceedings.

Prior Conviction and Probation Terms

Tomlinson was previously convicted in Idaho of felony possession of a controlled substance. On July 9, 2024, an Idaho court sentenced him to up to two years in prison but suspended the sentence and placed him on probation for two years. His supervision was transferred to Montana Probation and Parole.

In August 2024, Tomlinson signed documents acknowledging his probation conditions, including that his right to possess firearms was suspended while under supervision.

“I further understand that my right to possess or own firearms or ammunition is suspended while under supervision,” the form stated. “Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing or receive firearms or ammunition. Therefore, I understand I could be prosecuted for violation Federal law.”

Tomlinson’s probation conditions explicitly prohibited him from using, owning, possessing, transferring or controlling any firearms, ammunition or weapons.

Discovery and Arrest

On October 4, 2024, a witness contacted the Probation and Parole Office reporting that Tomlinson had a gun safe containing several firearms in a local storage unit.

Probation and parole officers located Tomlinson at his workplace, where he provided the combination to the gun safe and admitted to having several firearms inside along with personal paperwork.

Officers recovered five rifles, six pistols, miscellaneous ammunition, Tomlinson’s passport and other documents belonging to him from the safe. Surveillance footage from the storage facility showed Tomlinson had accessed the unit several days before the search.

Federal Initiative

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Montana Probation and Parole with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime perpetrators.