Butte man sentenced to three years in federal prison on illegal firearm possession charge

A Butte man was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal illegal firearm possession charge last October.

Shawn Troy Thumper Saccheri, 49, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on the lone count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Saccheri was convicted in October 2018 of felony distribution of dangerous drugs in Flathead County and received a six-year sentence to the Montana Department of Corrections. He was convicted in June 2023 of felony drug possession again in Yellowstone County and received a suspended sentence. Both his convictions prohibited him from owning firearms.

Federal investigators searched Saccheri’s home in November 2024 after getting tipped off that he was in possession of firearms. Ahead of the search, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Saccheri confirmed that was the case.

Inside his home, investigators found two .22-caliber rifles, three 12-gauge shotguns and other ammunition and weapons accessories, according to federal court documents.

Saccheri was sentenced at the U.S. District Court of Montana in Missoula. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.