The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on August 19, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JOLAINE LEE FLAMMOND, a 33-year-old resident of Babb, appeared for sentencing. FLAMMOND was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 84 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 4 years

FLAMMOND was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

Officers of the Blackfeet Safe Trails Task Force (BSTTF) conducted an extensive investigation of numerous individuals trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine on the Blackfeet Reservation during 2009 and 2010. FLAMMOND was identified as a conspirator in this illegal methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

On January 21, 2010, FLAMMOND was arrested by Blackfeet Tribal officers during a lawful traffic stop. When asked to exit the vehicle, after Tribal Officers detected the driver and passengers were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, FLAMMOND resisted, and the officers were forced to detain her. Upon conducting a pat-down search of FLAMMOND, the officers found a clear plastic baggy containing a crystalline substance on FLAMMOND. The crystalline substance found on FLAMMOND was subsequently submitted to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory for testing. The substance found on FLAMMOND tested positive for methamphetamine and was found to be 8.9 grams of pure (actual) methamphetamine.

When interviewed, FLAMMOND provided information regarding her personal involvement in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. FLAMMOND admitted to purchasing large quantities of methamphetamine from the two individuals identified as the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy. FLAMMOND admitted further to possessing and distributing this methamphetamine on the Blackfeet Reservation in late 2009, through the spring of 2010.

FLAMMOND also admitted that she met with members of the conspiracy on numerous occasions to purchase methamphetamine for subsequent distribution. Between late November 2009, and January 2010, FLAMMOND admitted to purchasing over 200 grams of methamphetamine for distribution. Often FLAMMOND was fronted methamphetamine, and later had to pay back her co-conspirators for the fronted methamphetamine after she distributed it.

FLAMMOND advised that she purchased three firearms for her co-conspirators. FLAMMOND purchased two 9mm Beretta handguns, and one .233 caliber AR-15 rifle for the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy. FLAMMOND purchased these guns for her co-conspirators because they could not purchase weapons as they were convicted felons.

After FLAMMOND's tribal arrest on January 21, 2010, the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy would not deal directly with FLAMMOND. Thus, FLAMMOND employed another co-conspirator to purchase methamphetamine for her, and collect money owed to FLAMMOND for her sales of methamphetamine.

Co-conspirator #1 would have testified that she met the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy through FLAMMOND. Co-conspirator #1 delivered the firearms, that FLAMMOND purchased, to the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy. After FLAMMOND was arrested, and later released, Co-conspirator #1 would purchase methamphetamine from the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy and deliver it to FLAMMOND for distribution.

Co-conspirator #2 would have testified that FLAMMOND purchased large amounts of methamphetamine from the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy and distributed it on the Blackfeet Reservation. Co-conspirator #2 would have testified that she and FLAMMOND owed the leaders/organizers of this conspiracy almost $8,000.00 for fronted methamphetamine. FLAMMOND had to borrow money from family members to repay the debt. FLAMMOND also had at least two individuals distributing methamphetamine for her.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that FLAMMOND will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, FLAMMOND 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 conducted by the Blackfeet Safe Trails Task Force.

 

 

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