Judd James Schwartz Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula on April 27, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, JUDD JAMES SCHWARTZ, a 37-year-old resident of Bozeman, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing has been set for July 21, 2010. He is currently detained.
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 ("MRDTF") and the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") began investigating a methamphetamine-trafficking organization in the Bozeman area in 2007. That organization is responsible for distributing pounds of meth in Gallatin County and the investigation has resulted in the arrest of prosecution of several individuals.
SCHWARTZ was identified as a local mid-level distributor in the organization. He received methamphetamine from other local sources, including William Feight, Lori Meigs, Emiliano Cruz-Salazar, Oswaldo Zuniga-Sanchez, and Isaac Cardona. SCHWARTZ used some of the meth he received, and distributed the rest to meth users in and around Bozeman. SCHWARTZ received between three and six ounces of methamphetamine from Feight and Meigs, four 8-balls from Cruz-Salazar, 1.5 ounces from Zuniga-Sanchez, and an unknown quantity from Cardona.
On April 14, 2008, SCHWARTZ sold approximately 8.7 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. On April 18, 2008, he sold another 14.5 grams of meth, again to a confidential informant.
Feight, Meigs, Cruz-Salazar, Zuniga-Sanchez and Cardona pled guilty to federal charges and have been sentenced.
SCHWARTZ 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 Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
