Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on April 22, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ANNA REA YELLOW OWL, a 40-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to distribution of cocaine in a public housing facility. Sentencing is set for August 3, 2009. She is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From October of 2006 through September of 2007, confidential informants (CIs), under the direction of the BlackFeet Safe Trails Task Force (BSTTF), conducted three undercover controlled purchases of cocaine from YELLOW OWL at her residence in the Glacier Heights neighborhood in Browning. YELLOW OWL'S residence was within 1,000 feet of a Housing and Urban Development community. The substances that were purchased on each of the three occasions were tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration Lab and confirmed to be cocaine.

On September 28, 2008, members of the BSTTF executed a search warrant at YELLOW OWL'S residence. The officers seized approximately 155 grams of cocaine, approximately $1,100 in cash, and various other items commonly used in the distribution of cocaine. YELLOW OWL was interviewed and indicated that she obtained cocaine from Yakima, Washington, and that she sold it in Browning.

YELLOW OWL faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 1 year in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $1,000,000 fine and 6 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the Blackfeet Safe Trails Task Force.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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