A 38-year-old Columbia Falls man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Zachary Matthew Gargasz pleaded guilty in March 2025 to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy.

U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case.

According to court documents, Gargasz on Oct. 6, 2017, was convicted in Flathead County District Court on a felony charge for operating a clandestine drug laboratory. He was sentenced to 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections, with all time suspended.

Gargasz on Nov. 9, 2018, signed a Firearms Regulation Form acknowledging he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as

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