The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on February 24, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, MICHAEL STRUTZEL, a 29-year-old resident of Butte, appeared for sentencing. STRUTZEL was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 120 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 5 years

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

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

Beginning in March 2009, and continuing until February 2010, STRUTZEL conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine throughout Montana.

A co-conspirator (CC # 1) would have testified that between approximately March 2009 and May 2009, s/he distributed approximately three ounces of methamphetamine from her/his source of supply to STRUTZEL in Butte. CC # 1 would have further testified that, along with X.X. and Y.Y., s/he distributed methamphetamine to STRUTZEL and others and, that between May 2009 through February 2010, STRUTZEL received approximately 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine from CC # 1.

On October 20, 2010, when interviewed by law enforcement agents, STRUTZEL admitted to receiving approximately 40 ounces of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that STRUTZEL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, STRUTZEL 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 Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

 

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