Great Falls man sentenced to over 18 years in prison on methamphetamine charges

GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced today to 220 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Michael Lee Wakeford, 62, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement learned defendant Mike Wakeford was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in Great Falls and elsewhere between approximately late 2019 or early 2020 through at least January 2021. Wakeford obtained methamphetamine from a source of supply in Arizona for redistribution in Montana. In approximately late 2021 or early 2022, Wakeford introduced his brother, Daniel Wakeford, to his source of supply in Arizona. During this trip, the Wakefords acquired between five and 10 pounds of methamphetamine that they later transported to and sold in Montana.

Law enforcement spoke with numerous individuals who received methamphetamine from Mike Wakeford between approximately 2020 and 2021. In November 2024, an informant disclosed that he/she met Wakeford at a pre-release center in Great Falls in 2020 and began to work with him to distribute methamphetamine. The informant said Wakeford would provide the informant methamphetamine to re-sell and to use. The first time, Wakeford gave the informant approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, but it eventually evolved to Wakeford providing the informant pound-quantities of methamphetamine. This informant stated Wakeford made numerous trips to Arizona to resupply.

In January 2021, a second informant disclosed he/she met Wakeford when they were in prison together in 2020. Upon release, the informant received methamphetamine from Wakeford for use and resale on approximately eight occasions. The informant estimated he/she received approximately two pounds of methamphetamine from Wakeford.

Wakeford has several prior convictions for drug offenses, including a conviction in the United States District Court for the District of Montana for Aiding and Abetting Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

In January 2024, Wakeford purchased a car through an intermediary from a car dealer in Great Falls for $10,099 in cash. The funds used to purchase the car were proceeds from the crime of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.

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