The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on September 5, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, AARON DEAN HOWELL appeared for sentencing. HOWELL was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 30 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 5 years

HOWELL was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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:

Officers from the Missouri River Drug Task Force in Bozeman have been investigating the distribution of methamphetamine in the Bozeman area by persons affiliated with HOWELL since 2009. During the investigation, HOWELL was identified as a low-level dealer who obtained small quantities of methamphetamine from various sources of supply, used some of the methamphetamine, and distributed the rest. Several people who have been prosecuted and sentenced for their involvement in this case would testify at trial that they distributed methamphetamine to HOWELL, including during October 2010.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HOWELL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HOWELL does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

 

 

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