Laurel man sentenced to 2 years in prison for illegal possession of guns, ammo

BILLINGS - A Laurel man who illegally possessed firearms and ammunition was sentenced today to two years and two months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.

Kenton Charles Maslen, 64, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.

The government alleged in court documents that after serving a search warrant on Maslen's property they found various types of ammunition, a shotgun and two revolvers.

On April 19, 2025, law enforcement was asked to assist with the eviction of Maslen from a residence in Laurel. During the search, law enforcement observed a white crystalline substance on a piece of glass in Maslen's bedroom. Based on this discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant on the same day and discovered the following:

• The search in Maslen's bedroom yielded a brown leather handgun holster and a green ammunition can. The can contained boxes of .22 caliber ammo and 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
• In the driveway of Maslen's residence was a fifth-wheel camper Maslen claimed as his own. During the search of the camper, a black 12-gauge shotgun was found in a case. The shotgun did not have a serial number, and it appeared that the barrel had been cut short to approximately 16 inches. The case also contained a loaded magazine for a Smith and Wesson pistol, more shotgun ammunition and 9mm ammunition.
• On the floor of the camper was a compartment that agents were able to open. They discovered another firearm, a North American Arms .17 caliber revolver.
• Law enforcement also searched the defendant's truck and discovered a gun box containing a Ruger "Single Six" .22 caliber revolver.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF, Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.