Drug Bust

[BobCatFan]

There is a big storm brewing in Billings and the Billings Outlaws. Numerous ex-players and coaches are be charged with drug distribution.

Gee, with all the ex-Griz players involved, maybe Bobby Hauck should be let go like Kramer was.

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/c ... 002e0.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A conspiracy that brought nearly 20 pounds of cocaine to Billings and other Montana communities has ensnared at least eight people, including four former players and assistant coaches with the Billings Outlaws football organization.

Former Outlaws defensive back Shon Flores, 32, of Billings, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to a conspiracy count. He admitted trafficking at least 9 kilos, or almost 20 pounds, of cocaine that came from Salt Lake City.

Some of Flores' customers included business owners, professionals and salesmen in the Billings community, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Seykora. The conspiracy ran from late summer last year until July.

Flores, Seykora said, was distributing cocaine in Billings, Missoula and elsewhere in the state through co-conspirators. Three others who either have been in the past or are associated with the Outlaws pleaded not guilty to cocaine charges during arraignments Wednesday afternoon.

Chase Allyn Raynock, 32, of Billings, a member of the Outlaws' sales team and a former assistant coach, turned himself in Wednesday. He is charged with conspiracy and with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He previously played football at Skyview High School and the University of Montana. He is also listed as an assistant coach for the Skyview football team.

Robert Earl Reed, 34, of Billings, a wide receiver from 2006-08 and the team's offensive coordinator this past season, was indicted on conspiracy and distribution charges. Reed, who also played three games for the San Diego Chargers in 1999, said he resigned from his job with the Outlaws two weeks ago. He allegedly distributed about 250 grams of cocaine to an undercover agent on at least 25 occasions. Earlier this year, Reed got a five-year suspended sentence in Mississippi for failing to pay $45,000 in child support.

Former Outlaws player and University of Montana Grizzly All-American Andrew James Petek, 31, of Livingston, also appeared after being arrested. He was indicted on conspiracy and possession charges.

Flores, a defensive back, played for the team for six years before leaving in 2006, said his attorney, Vern Woodward. A Hawaii native, Flores played two seasons at West Hills College in California, then was a two-year starter for Montana State University in Bozeman. He was a second-team All-American selection in 1999.

Outlaws General Manager and co-owner Adam Steadman, who said he first heard of the charges Wednesday afternoon, said Raynock is the only person charged who is still affiliated with the Outlaws. He described the incident as "tremendously out of character" said no decisions about Raynock's job with the organization will be made until more information can be gathered.

"The gut reaction is just to fire everybody and move on," he said. "But to be responsible, we just can't do that. Any business owner or manager faced with the same situation would probably come to the same conclusion."

Also pleading not guilty to conspiracy charges were Terra Chesarek, 37, of Billings, who turned herself in, and Edward Alvin White II, 29, of Billings, who was arrested. Chesarek was indicted on conspiracy and distribution counts; White faces conspiracy and possession charges.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby released all five without bond until trial. They face a possible five years to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine if convicted. Their cases will be heard by the district judges Richard Cebull and Jack Shanstrom.

In addition to Flores, two women charged in the case pleaded guilty Wednesday.

Athena Candace Beaumont, 28, of Billings, and Tara Rauschendorfer, 24, of Billings, who lives with Flores, each admitted conspiracy charges for their roles in drug trafficking.

Flores, Beaumont and Rauschendorfer all reached plea agreements with the government. The prosecutor agreed not to bring other charges in return for their guilty pleas.

Seykora said FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration agents were conducting independent drug trafficking investigations in the fall of 2008 when they realized that different groups were connected to the same supplier. The agents began working the case together and identified Flores as the supplier in Billings.

Flores traveled to Salt Lake City numerous times or had others drive there to pick up cocaine for resale, Seykora said. The cocaine was distributed to individuals and groups, including business owners, professionals and salesmen, in Billings, he said. Court records did not identify those persons. Undercover agents made numerous purchases of cocaine from Flores and others.

Rauschendorfer allowed Flores to use her vehicle to get cocaine in Salt Lake City, Seykora said. She also rented cars for Flores to use on drug runs and distributed about 3 ounces of cocaine.

Rauschendorfer denied she accepted drug proceeds from others and delivered the money to Flores.

Beaumont admitted getting about a pound of cocaine from Flores and distributing to others, including an undercover agent.

Flores faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a maximum $4 million fine. Beaumont and Rauschendorfer face a minimum mandatory five years to 40 years in prison and a maximum $2 million fine.

Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull set Flores' sentencing for Feb. 10 and continued his release without bond. The judge set sentencing for Beaumont and Rauschendorfer for Feb. 4 and also released them without bond.

Steadman said Wednesday night that the Outlaws have had a strict, no-tolerance code of conduct in place for about a year. The policy has been successful, he said, with the only significant violation during that time coming when four players missed a mandatory curfew during a road game.

"It's so important to me that we can hold our head high with the individuals that we have on and off the field, with the players and the staff," he said.

All players are informed of the rules before the season begins and have to sign a document stating they'll keep in line. In addition, while the team's coach is evaluating players' skills on the field during tryouts, Steadman said he is asking them questions about their personal lives off of it to ensure they're a good fit.

"We can do 99.9 percent of everything right, but when you have that one problem, that .1 percent, it can be devastating," he said.

Come the start of the 2010 season, the team's administration doesn't plan on sweeping the issue under the rug or dancing around the issue, and hopes to use it as a cautionary tale.

"This is not a good 'ol boys club," Steadman said. "During training camp last year, one veteran player came in and summed it up perfectly. He said, 'I live here, don't embarrass me.' We don't take anything more seriously here than our families and our place in the community. You can bet that this is something we'll hammer into them."


Personal, I think the Outlaws need to leave the community as it appears they are bringing in way too much drug crime into the Billings community. I can not support the Outlaws as I have noticed the type of thugs they seem to attract long before the this drug bust. I do not want Billings to become a mini Denver and all the crime that can come with it.

[catamaran]

you could have posted your opinion on the other three threads dealing with this. As far as throwing stones in the glass house, it seems a former cat is the leader

[Old Skool Cat]

http://www.bobcatnation.com/bobcatbb/vi ... =4&t=19885" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[GrizinWashington]

maybe Bobby Hauck should be let go like Kramer was.

I would actually agree with you on this, except that those f'g idiots never played for Hauck.

[SonomaCat]

Facts ... logic ... reason ... the territory of people with much less creative opinions.