Helena man sentenced to 15 years for illegal firearm possession

A federal judge sentenced Helena resident Chaz Dean Cox to 180 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm while barred from doing so. The sentence, handed down Jan. 7, resolves a case that ties a 2019 Lewis and Clark County felony record to a 2024 weapons seizure in downtown Helena.

Cox, 29, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing. Prosecutors said Cox was subject to a statutory prohibition on owning, possessing, transferring, or controlling firearms and ammunition because of multiple felony convictions in April 2019 for burglary and drug possession in Lewis and Clark County.

The events that triggered the federal case unfolded on March 31, 2024, when law enforcement officers on patrol observed Cox and a co-defendant accessing the interior of a vehicle in Helena. Cox was taken into custody on active arrest warrants, and officers seized the vehicle after plain view observations linked to suspected drug possession. A search warrant executed the next day produced a loaded 7.62x25mm caliber pistol in the vehicle.

During subsequent interviews, Cox denied possessing the firearm. The co-defendant later told investigators they had concocted a lie with Cox about who possessed the gun to prevent Cox from getting into trouble, and said the gun belonged to Cox. The co-defendant said the first time they saw the gun was the night before Cox’s arrest.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Investigating agencies included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Helena Police Department, and State of Montana Probation and Parole. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentence.

For Lewis and Clark County residents, the case is a reminder that local felony convictions can carry long-term legal consequences, including federal firearm prohibitions. It also highlights coordinated work between local and federal law enforcement in responding to suspected drug and weapons activity in Helena neighborhoods.

Our two cents? If you own firearms, make sure you understand the law and keep weapons secured; if you see suspicious activity, notify Helena Police or the sheriff’s office. Staying informed and communicating with local authorities helps keep our community safer.