Laura Dawn Armstrong and David Derryberry Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on February 27, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, LAURA DAWN ARMSTRONG, a 35-year-old resident of Coeur d'Alene, and DAVID DERRYBERRY, a 38-year-old resident of Boulder, appeared for sentencing.
ARMSTRONG was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 78 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: 5 years
DERRYBERRY was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 96 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: 5 years
They were sentenced in connection with their guilty pleas 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:
In June 2008, ARMSTRONG and DERRYBERRY conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in Mineral County.
On June 12, 2008, ARMSTRONG, accompanied by DERRYBERRY, sold one ounce of methamphetamine for $1,500 to an undercover agent with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations.
On June 16, 2008, the undercover agent arranged a second controlled purchase for two ounces of methamphetamine from ARMSTRONG through a confidential informant. While waiting for ARMSTRONG to arrive, the confidential informant contacted DERRYBERRY at the undercover agent's direction. DERRYBERRY advised the informant that he (DERRYBERRY) was ARMSTRONG's supplier and must be present before ARMSTRONG could conduct the transaction.
ARMSTRONG, again accompanied by DERRYBERRY, met the undercover agent at a location off Interstate 90's Haugen exit at approximately 1950 hours on June 16, 2008. ARMSTRONG delivered the methamphetamine to the undercover agent, accepted $2,940 which was slightly less money than discussed over the phone, and stated that the difference would come out of her cut.
After completing the controlled purchase, the undercover agent asked ARMSTRONG about doing a larger deal. ARMSTRONG stated that she would discuss the possibility of doing a larger deal with DERRYBERRY.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that they will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, they do 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 Montana Department of Criminal Investigation.
