Arik Alan MacBlane Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on July 3, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ARIK ALAN MACBLANE, a 33-year-old resident of Williston, North Dakota, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and distribution. Sentencing has been set for October 7, 2013. He is currently detained.

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

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

MACBLANE was from Lewistown. In November of 2009, MACBLANE moved to Billings to be with his girlfriend, Corina Moldrem. MACBLANE had been a methamphetamine user while living in Lewistown and continued to use the drug once he moved to Billings.

After MACBLANE returned to Billings in November of 2009, he learned that Moldrem was distributing methamphetamine and that her source was Jeri Lynn Milheim. A short time later, Milheim became MACBLANE's source for methamphetamine for further distribution. MACBLANE knew that Milheim was getting her methamphetamine from a source known as "Paco" that lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. Paco was later identified as Francisco Flores-Jorge. MACBLANE estimated he received methamphetamine from Milheim for approximately two months.

At some point Milheim and Paco had a falling out and Milheim started getting her methamphetamine from Angel and Jose Aguilar. MACBLANE paid the Aguilars between $2,000 and $2,500 each time he met with them to pay his debt. In early 2010, Angel arrived in Billings and introduced MACBLANE to Paco. After that meeting Angel and Jose both began traveling to Billings to distribute methamphetamine. MACBLANE distributed methamphetamine for Angel and Jose. A short time later, Angel and Jose then got in a fight with Paco over giving Milheim methamphetamine. At that point MACBLANE stopped getting methamphetamine from Angel and Jose.

In approximately May of 2010, Paco came back to Billings with Lee Navarro. Paco asked MACBLANE to continue to sell methamphetamine for him. MACBLANE agreed to distribute methamphetamine for Paco. Approximately two months later, Paco was in a serious car accident. Following the car accident, MACBLANE began receiving methamphetamine from Navarro directly for redistribution.

MACBLANE admitted he had customers wire him money on occasion to repay drug debts. MACBLANE admitted using his cellular telephone to communicate with Moldrem, Paco, and Navarro about drug dealing and drug debts. MACBLANE also admitted to receiving packages containing methamphetamine from Paco and Navarro at his personal residence.

The evidence would show that MACBLANE possessed with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, during his involvement in the conspiracy.

Francisco Flores-Jorge, Lee Navarro, Corina Moldrem and Jeri Lynn Milheim have all been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the offense.

MACBLANE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release .

The investigation was conducted by the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.