Convicted felon sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug and gun charges

BILLINGS – A convicted felon from Belgrade who possessed methamphetamine and a firearm was sentenced today to 121 months in prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Robert Stuart Quam, 44, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on March 27, 2023, agents with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information Robert Quam was distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in Montana. Given this intel, a DCI Agent, acting in an undercover capacity, began speaking to Quam via social media.

During their conversations, Quam agreed to sell one ounce of methamphetamine for $500. On March 31, 2023, the undercover agent and Quam agreed to meet at the Scheel’s parking lot in Billings to conduct the transaction. Quam arrived at the parking lot and entered the agent’s vehicle. During the transaction, the agent observed Quam with a black bag. Quam removed another bag from inside of the black bag which contained numerous smaller bags with suspected methamphetamine. Quam provided one of the smaller bags containing approximately one ounce of methamphetamine to the agent and the agent provided Quam with $500. Toward the end of the transaction, Quam pulled a pistol from his pocket and placed it onto floorboard of the car. Quam then placed the pistol into the black bag and left the vehicle.

The undercover agent and Quam spoke over the phone again after the transaction. During the conversation, Quam began talking about firearms. Quam told the agent there are a lot of people getting robbed, and he does not like guns, however, he knows he needs a firearm for protection. Quam advised the agent his pistol was a “.45 caliber.” On September 20, 2023, a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in Belgrade. Quam was identified as the passenger in the vehicle and had a safe on the floorboard at his feet. During the interaction, the deputy uncovered a loaded firearm in Quam’s left pocket. Quam was detained.

GCSO deployed a canine to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle and the dog alerted to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle told law enforcement the safe belonged to Quam.

Law enforcement received a search warrant for the vehicle and its contents and seized approximately 1086.8 grams of methamphetamine.

Quam was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a felony, in the United States Court for the District of Montana on February 28, 2014. Consequently, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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