MISSOULA–The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that during an arraignment on Oct. 14, Dora Sandra Gomez, also known as Bella Gomez, 64, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her false information and hoaxes.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Gomez faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Gomez was released pending further proceedings.
A trial date has been set for Dec. 20 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen.
The indictment alleges that on May 8, in Dillon, in Beaverhead County, Gomez placed an anonymous phone call to a banquet organized by the Montana Trappers Association and stated that a remotely operated explosive device was located inside the building where the banquet was taking place and people could get hurt, or words to that effect.
The FBI is not aware of any ongoing threats regarding this matter. The FBI investigated the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PACER case reference. 21-31.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
