Tommy Michael VanHoose, the owner of Highwood Creek Outfitters in Great Falls, Montana, remains at large following the issuance of an arrest warrant by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris. VanHoose, who gained national attention in 2023 after an IRS raid on his gun store, failed to appear for his scheduled federal sentencing hearing on October 8, 2026. The warrant was issued later that afternoon after his defense attorney appeared in court without him. VanHoose’s legal team filed paperwork to withdraw from the case the following day, citing professional conduct rules regarding repugnant client actions. VanHoose pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of submitting false tax returns related to 2018 filings, admitting to underreporting income and skimming approximately $450,000 over five years. Prior to his disappearance, VanHoose was attempting to sell his business to David Bissell of Cascade Ballistics. Bissell submitted a victim impact letter to the court, revealing that VanHoose provided profit-and-loss statements containing the same falsified financial records used in his tax fraud conviction. Bissell alleged that VanHoose used these documents to attempt to induce the purchase of his property at an inflated value. VanHoose’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and he has not appeared on the county jail roster as of late October 2026. His business south of downtown Great Falls appears closed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana is investigating the matter. Individuals with information regarding VanHoose’s location are urged to contact federal authorities. The case highlights ongoing legal proceedings regarding tax fraud and the subsequent flight from justice by a defendant who had previously leveraged political narratives surrounding the initial IRS investigation.