Leonard LaVerne Ewalt, Jr. Sentenced In U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Butte, on November 8, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, LEONARD LAVERNE EWALT, JR., a 42-year-old resident of Butte, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 160 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 5 years

EWALT was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

From approximately February 2008 until approximately July 2012, EWALT and numerous others possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in Butte and other places in Montana. The methamphetamine came from Las Vegas and other places from outside the state of Montana for distribution by EWALT and others.

EWALT admitted to this conduct when interviewed by law enforcement. EWALT admitted that the full scope of his criminal conduct included possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine with other people.

This information was confirmed through the interview of other witnesses. Money Gram records also confirmed EWALT's admissions.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that EWALT will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, EWALT does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, the Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Lab.