Bernard James Horstman Sentenced On Drug Charges

The United States Attorney's Office announced that BERNARD JAMES HORSTMAN was sentenced on February 20, 2014, to a term of 120 months in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen.

Horstman was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed with the Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott advised the court that in August of 2012, the Northwest Drug Task Force (NWDTF) received information from several sources that an individual identified only as "BJ" was receiving methamphetamine through the mail and then distributing the methamphetamine throughout Northwest Montana.

Agents received information from a confidential informant who admitted to purchasing 2 grams of methamphetamine from Horstman on or about September 17, 2012. The informant had observed Horstman in possession of approximately 1/4 pound of methamphetamine.

On October 10, 2012, a DCI Agent applied for and received a state search warrant for an intercepted USPS Package addressed to the defendant. When the package was opened, agents discovered approximately 12.6 grams (contained in a small baggie further wrapped in aluminum foil) of methamphetamine located inside a DVD case.

On January 3, 2013 agents searched Horstman's Honda Civic and recovered 65 grams of pure meth. Horstman admitted that the meth was his, that he had purchased it in Fresno, California, and had transported it back to Montana.

The term pure methamphetamine refers to the purity contained in the transacted amount which is usually "cut" with inert ingredients that make the actual product less pure but more profitable as drugs are generally sold based on quantity not quality.