Billings meth dealer sentenced to six years in prison

BILLINGS—A Billings man who admitted supplying methamphetamine for a drug deal with a confidential informant was sentenced today to six years in prison and four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Patrick Bryan Cleveland, 39, pleaded guilty in January to distribution of meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The prosecution said in court records that in June 2019, drug task force agents met with a confidential informant about drug trafficking in the Laurel and Billings areas and arranged for the informant to buy meth from co-defendant Shawna Bercier, of Laurel. The informant bought about two grams of meth from Bercier in a transaction observed by law enforcement. Agents arranged another controlled buy in which the informant bought one ounce from Bercier. For the second deal, Bercier advised the informant she would be getting the meth from "Pat" and that it was worth the wait. Agents observed Cleveland arrive at Bercier's workplace and provide her with a cigarette box, which contained about an ounce of meth. The cigarette box was provided to the informant.

Agents followed Cleveland's vehicle to a Billings residence, where a third co-defendant, Lynn Kuntz, lived. Kuntz had been identified as a source of supply for meth.

Bercier and Kuntz have pleaded guilty to charges in the case and are awaiting sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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