Lester Sentenced To Prison

The United States Attorney's Office announced that on March 20, 2014, KEITH EDWARD LESTER, 44, of Sidney, was ordered to serve a term of 30 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters. The sentence is a result of Lester's December 2013 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In the prosecution's sentencing memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thaggard stated in early 2013, member of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (MDCI), the Sidney, Montana Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began to investigate a drug trafficking ring operating in Sidney, Montana. The investigation disclosed that the Defendant and his son, Kyle Lester, were associated with the drug trafficking ring and were distributing methamphetamine in and around Sidney;

In June 2012, members of the MDCI and the Sidney Police Department interviewed the Defendant. The Defendant stated that, in July 2012, Kyle Lester met Robert Armstrong. The Defendant stated that Robert Armstrong began to provide methamphetamine to Kyle Armstrong shortly thereafter. The Defendant further stated that, in approximately September 2012, he met Armstrong.

The Defendant stated that, after meeting Armstrong, he then began to receive methamphetamine from Armstrong. The Defendant stated that he, in turn, distributed that methamphetamine in and around Sidney.

In July 2013, members of the MDCI and the Sidney Police Department interviewed Kyle Lester. He confirmed that Robert Armstrong was an associate who provided methamphetamine to him. Kyle Lester stated that he provided some of that methamphetamine to the Defendant for redistribution.