Montana man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for export and firearm violations

MISSOULA, Mont. — A Montana man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for illegally exporting firearms, and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Eric Daniel Doyle, a 37-year-old former Kalispell resident, admitted to supplying buyers from Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada with firearms and ammunition magazines when he was interviewed by law enforcement in September 2014. In about February 2014, Doyle began selling firearms on a website to people in other countries. Doyle learned that there were a lot of people in the Kalispell area trying to sell firearms and, at the same time, a lot of people online that wanted to buy them. Doyle checked his email messages to see what types of firearms people were requesting, and then see what was available around town. Doyle also checked local gun websites or gun shows for the types of firearms sought in the email requests.

Doyle used associates to package and ship most of the firearms. He personally packaged 12 firearms. At the time of his interview, Doyle estimated that he and his associates shipped 25 to 35 firearms out of the Kalispell area. Doyle filled out all of the shipping paperwork and customs forms used to send the packages. When officers later searched his storage unit, they found one of the packed firearms with its pre-filled customs and shipping form. In addition, officers found 15 firearms, 10 pistol magazines, and 150 rounds of ammunition, as well as packing and shipping materials.

On Feb. 7, 2018, Doyle pleaded guilty to illegal export, attempted illegal export, and felon in possession of firearms. He acknowledged that he was a convicted felon and he knew that he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Doyle’s prior felony convictions include possessing cocaine, burglary, and unlawfully delivering a controlled substance (cocaine) from Illinois.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart, District of Montana.