Columbia Falls man sentenced to over 4 years in prison for illegal gun possession

MISSOULA - A Columbia Falls man who possessed a firearm illegally was sentenced today to 51 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Zachary Matthew Gargasz, 38, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on October 6, 2017, Gargasz was convicted in Flathead County District Court of Operation of a Clandestine Drug Laboratory and sentenced to 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections, with all that time suspended. On November 9, 2018, Gargasz signed a Firearms Regulation Form acknowledging he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

On December 1, 2023, Gargasz reported to his probation officers for a scheduled visit. Officers searched his vehicle and discovered 11 rounds of .45 ammunition in the center console. Officers also located two AR magazines taped together in opposite directions, loaded with 63 .233 caliber rounds, behind the passenger seat. Probation officers then searched Gargasz's home and found underneath Gargasz's mattress a .45 caliber handgun loaded with seven rounds. At a later revocation hearing on April 11, 2024, Gargasz admitted to possessing the firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The ATF and State of Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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