Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on November 12, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, CHASE ALLYN RAYNOCK, a 32-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine. Sentencing is set for February 10, 2010. He is currently released on special conditions.

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

In the fall of 2008, federal agents with the F.B.I. and D.E.A. began conducting independent drug trafficking cases targeting several subjects in Billings. They later realized the different cells were connected to the same source of supply and began working the case jointly. The source of supply in Billings was identified as Shon Kalani Flores.

It was determined that Flores was residing in Billings and during the period of the conspiracy RAYNOCK assisted Flores in obtaining cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance, for redistribution in the Billings area.

The investigation revealed that in January 2009, RAYNOCK traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah on behalf of Flores to pickup cocaine for Flores. RAYNOCK paid the source and returned with multiple ounces of cocaine and delivered it to Flores for redistribution.

RAYNOCK allowed Flores to use his vehicle on several occasions so that Flores could travel to Salt Lake City to pickup multiple ounces of cocaine. Flores picked up over half a pound of cocaine on each trip.

RAYNOCK received cash and controlled substances for the use of his vehicle during the period of the conspiracy.

In June 2009, a surveillance team followed Flores in RAYNOCK'S vehicle to Salt Lake City to the cocaine source.

The amount of cocaine that RAYNOCK was responsible for and which was directly and reasonably foreseeable to him in the conspiracy exceeded 500 grams.

RAYNOCK faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least 4 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

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

 

 

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