Bakken Meth Dealer Sentenced To 10 Years

The United States Attorney(s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on March 5, 2014, before Senior U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, ANTHONY JOSEPH RUNGO, a 48 year-old resident of Roseburg, Oregon, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 121 months

Special Assessment: $ 100

Restitution: N/A

Supervised Release: 5 years

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

In May of 2013, agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations (MDCI) began an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine by the defendant in the Richland County, Montana area.

On May 30, 2013, agents used a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine from Rungo in Sidney, Montana. The methamphetamine was subsequently sent to the DEA Laboratory for analysis, and the lab report indicated that the amount of actual (pure) methamphetamine was 5.1 grams.

On June 6, 2013, the confidential informant again made arrangements to meet with Rungo in Sidney, Montana for the purpose of purchasing methamphetamine. During this transaction, the confidential informant also introduced an undercover MDCI agent to the defendant. The informant and the undercover agent each purchased methamphetamine from Rungo. The methamphetamine was subsequently sent to the DEA Laboratory, and the lab report indicated that the combined actual (pure) amount of methamphetamine was 9.3 grams.

The undercover agent then made arrangements to purchase more methamphetamine. On June 17, 2013, the undercover agent purchased methamphetamine from Rungo in Fairview, Montana. The methamphetamine was also sent to the DEA Laboratory, and the lab report indicated that the actual (pure) amount of methamphetamine was 5 grams.

The undercover agent then contacted the defendant and discussed purchasing two ounces of methamphetamine. They agreed to meet on July 10, 2013 in Fairview, Montana to make the transaction. When the meeting took place Rungo was a passenger in a vehicle registered to him that was pulled over by Montana Highway Patrol. On July 12, 2013, MDCI agents obtained a search warrant for the Rungo's vehicle. Inside the cigarette box in the center counsel, agents seized approximately two ounces of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was sent to the DEA Laboratory, and the lab report indicated that the actual (pure) amount of methamphetamine was 52.8 grams.