Project 7 defendants to plead guilty

The last of six people accused of federal weapons violations with a paramilitary group called Project 7 are expected to plead guilty.

The last of six people accused of federal weapons violations with a paramilitary group called Project 7 are expected to plead guilty.

Steven N. Morey, 44, James R. Day, 60, and John W. Slater, 53, all of Kalispell; and former Flathead resident Larry Chezem, 53, of Indiana have signed statements saying they plan to plead guilty.

They were scheduled for trial on Oct. 25.

Two other defendants, Project 7 leader David Burgert, 40, of Kalispell and Tracy Brockway, 34, formerly of the Flathead Valley, already pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations.

Prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris McLean said all four men slated for trial on Monday have signed documents to change their pleas. All four pleaded innocent in May.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy will listen to their pleas on Nov. 16, McLean said.

Burgert will be sentenced on Nov. 12; he faces up to 10 years in prison. Brockway also pleaded guilty to three weapons charges and will be sentenced the same day.

The charges followed a two-year investigation by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into the activities of Project 7. Local authorities say the group conspired to assassinate local judges and other officials.

The six defendants were linked to a cache of weapons seized by authorities in 2002. It included 25,000 rounds of ammunition, illegal machine guns, commercial explosives, a gun with an illegal silencer, pipe bombs, shackles and other gear.

Burgert is already serving a seven-year prison term for other federal weapons violations.

The last defendant to change his plea was Chezem.

He ran for Flathead County sheriff/coroner in 2002, then moved to Indiana after losing the election. He was arrested there on the charge of conspiracy to possess illegal firearms and was brought to Montana briefly before being allowed to return to Indiana, awaiting trial.

Federal officials have said further arrests in the Project 7 case are possible.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com