Laurel, MT Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Gun Charges

A Laurel resident convicted of unlawfully having firearms and ammunition is headed to federal prison. Kenton Charles Maslen, 64, received a sentence of two years and two months behind bars, with three additional years of supervised release to follow, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith.

Kenton Maslen's Guilty Plea in Montana Federal Court

Maslen entered a guilty plea in January 2026 to a single charge of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer oversaw the case. Prosecutors said a search of Maslen's property turned up several types of ammunition, a shotgun, and two revolvers.

Laurel Eviction Leads to Initial Drug Discovery

The case dates back to April 19, 2025, when officers responded to assist with an eviction at a Laurel residence where Maslen was living. While on scene, officers spotted a white crystalline substance on a piece of glass inside his bedroom. That discovery prompted them to secure a search warrant that same day.

Search Uncovers Shortened Shotgun and Hidden Revolver

Officers searching Maslen's bedroom found a leather handgun holster along with a green ammunition can holding boxes of .22 caliber rounds and 12-gauge shotgun shells. A fifth-wheel camper parked in the driveway, which Maslen identified as belonging to him, contained a black 12-gauge shotgun inside a case. The weapon had no serial number, and its barrel appeared to have been shortened to roughly 16 inches. The same case held a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol magazine, additional shotgun rounds, and 9mm ammunition.

A hidden compartment in the camper's floor, once opened, revealed a North American Arms .17 caliber revolver. A search of Maslen's truck turned up a gun box containing a Ruger "Single Six" .22 caliber revolver.

Billings Police and Yellowstone County Sheriff's Investigation

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, and the Billings Police Department carried out the investigation.

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The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, drug cartels, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime nationwide.