The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on July 14, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, CLAY ALLEN ROBERTS, a 28-year-old resident of Bozeman, appeared for sentencing. ROBERTS was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 156 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 10 years

ROBERTS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had been investigating a methamphetamine-trafficking organization in the Bozeman area since approximately January of 2010. As the investigation unfolded, ROBERTS was identified as one of the major suppliers of methamphetamine in Gallatin County. The investigation revealed that ROBERTS obtained the methamphetamine that he distributed in the Seattle area and personally transported it back to Bozeman.

During February and March of 2010, law enforcement agents monitored the controlled purchases of methamphetamine from one of ROBERTS' associates. Once the agents identified ROBERTS as the source of those drugs, they began to buy directly from him. On the following dates, agents purchased the following amounts of actual meth from ROBERTS:

� May 19, 2010, 0.65 grams;

� May 20, 2010, 3.3 grams;

� June 8, 2010, 2.8 grams;

� June 11, 2010, 0.45 grams; and

� June 15, 2010, 6.1 grams.

In addition to the controlled purchases above, ROBERTS' possessed 42.8 grams of actual methamphetamine on June 25, 2010 when his car was stopped by the Montana Highway Patrol and ultimately searched. The methamphetamine was found inside what appeared to be a can of "Gunk Puncture Seal." The can had a false bottom and contained five baggies of suspected methamphetamine. The total amount of actual methamphetamine in the five baggies was 42.8 grams.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that ROBERTS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, ROBERTS does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

 

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