Great Falls meth trafficker sentenced to prison

GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to distributing methamphetamine in the community after law enforcement stopped him on his way back from Missoula and found about a half pound of meth in the vehicle was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

John Deacon Gundlach, 35, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute meth.

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

The government alleged in court documents that in May 2020, the Russell Country Drug Task Force received information that Gundlach was distributing meth. Investigators also learned on June 1,2020 that Gundlach was leaving Great Falls to pick up a load of meth, had been in Missoula and was returning to Great Falls. Officers stopped a Chevrolet Tahoe in which Gundlach was a passenger. Gundlach admitted he got meth in Missoula and that it was on floor of the vehicle. Law enforcement found the bag of meth and an analysis determined it contained about 269 grams of meth, or more than half a pound.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Russell Country Drug Task Force and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. 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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