A Las Vegas man who helped haul stolen coins and precious metals out of a Helena shop is headed to federal prison for just over two years and on the hook for more than a quarter-million dollars.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris sentenced Bishop Lott, 47, to 27 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $276,153.08 in restitution after he admitted transporting stolen merchandise from Helena to Nevada. Prosecutors say the break-in at Wayne Miller Coins alone cost the downtown shop about $58,629 in losses before the haul was moved south.
Federal sentence and plea
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana, Lott pleaded guilty in January to a single count of interstate transportation of stolen property and was sentenced on May 28 in Great Falls. The office said the $276,153.08 restitution covers both the Helena burglary and losses at five other shops, and that Lott will remain under federal supervision for three years after he leaves prison. The release notes that the Helena Police Department and the FBI teamed up on the investigation before federal prosecutors took the case to court.
How the Helena break-in unfolded
Local coverage at the time described a fast, targeted hit on the downtown Helena coin shop. In the early morning hours of March 3, 2024, three suspects smashed through a glass door at Wayne Miller Coins and made off with silver dollars and other valuables, KTVH reported. Owner Wayne Miller told reporters the thieves focused largely on silver dollars, while Helena police, confronting a string of similar break-ins, put out a call for tips. The case quickly highlighted how much downtown security cameras and alarm systems had become part of the investigative playbook.
Restitution covers six shops
Lott’s restitution bill stretches well beyond Montana. Federal records show his court-ordered payments are meant to make six different businesses whole: Wayne Miller Coins in Helena ($58,629); Smith & Bevill Jewelers in Beaverton, Oregon ($113,259); Ruby's Coin and Jewelry in Gilbert, Arizona ($45,000); Oz Coin & Bullion in American Fork, Utah ($29,256.08); Eagle Coin & Precious Metals in Eagle, Idaho ($18,625); and Lindsey Jewelers in Lake Oswego, Oregon ($11,384), according to the Las Vegas Sun.
Investigation and co-defendant
Investigators built the case with a mix of digital and old-fashioned detective work. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana, authorities pulled surveillance footage and analyzed email account data to connect Lott and accomplice Ricky Rynell Rose to the stolen goods. The office said Rose pleaded guilty last year and received a 39-month prison sentence in 2025. Prosecutors say the pair transported the stolen coins and precious metals from Helena to Nevada after the break-in.
Legal note
The charge at the center of the case, interstate transportation of stolen property, is a federal crime that kicks in when stolen goods worth $5,000 or more cross state lines. It is outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 2314, which details the specific elements prosecutors must prove. The full statute text is available through Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.
