Jennifer Rae Cobell Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on July 9, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JENNIFER RAE COBELL, a 26-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. COBELL was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 24 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: 3 years
COBELL was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
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:
From January 2009 until approximately May 2010, COBELL possessed with the intent to distribute cocaine in Great Falls.
During the above time frame, COBELL was associated with Jesse Edwards and others. During their association COBELL used and sold cocaine.
On February 2, 2010, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Edwards and COBELL's residence. Officers located 22 grams of cocaine and over $10,000 cash inside COBELL's black purse. After Edwards was arrested on February 2, 2010, COBELL took a bag of white powder to other associates and wanted money to bond Edwards out of jail - COBELL told the associates that the white powder was cocaine. They did not believe COBELL and would not give her money.
COBELL also sold small amounts of cocaine for cash or clothing. The amount of cocaine that COBELL is likely responsible for is somewhere between 100 and 200 grams of cocaine.
The Montana Department of Justice Crime Laboratory tested the suspected cocaine seized from COBELL and Edwards' residence. The chemist tested the net 20.37 grams received and the result was cocaine.
Edwards pled guilty to federal charges and has been sentenced.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that COBELL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, COBELL 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 Great Falls Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
