Joshua Luke Schultz Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Helena, on December 15, 2011, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, JOSHUA LUKE SCHULTZ, a 38-year-old resident of Helena, appeared for sentencing. SCHULTZ was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 12 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: 4 years
SCHULTZ was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to distribution of marijuana.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
SCHULTZ sold marijuana to individuals in Great Falls and Helena from the fall of 2009 until March 14, 2011. SCHULTZ sold most of the marijuana in Great Falls but also some in Helena. SCHULTZ obtained marijuana from other marijuana growers.
An analysis of SCHULTZ's bank records revealed that SCHULTZ purchased and resold over 100 kilograms of marijuana. SCHULTZ used his 2001 Mercedes vehicle to transport the marijuana.
On March 14, 2011, law enforcement executed a search warrant regarding SCHULTZ's marijuana distribution. At that time, law enforcement seized $7,135 from SCHULTZ. Law enforcement also seized the bank account used by SCHULTZ in his buying and selling of marijuana. There were checks from SCHULTZ to other individuals for marijuana purchases.
The DEA laboratory tested a portion of the substances recovered from the investigation which confirmed that items seized from SCHULTZ on March 14, 2011, did contain marijuana.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SCHULTZ will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SCHULTZ 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, the Helena Police Department, and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office.
