Missoula Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Meth and Gun Possession

MISSOULA - Robert Craig Smith, 39, of Missoula, was sentenced today to a total of 120 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Chief United States District Judge Dana L. Christensen sentenced Smith to 60 months for each count, to run consecutively. 

Beginning in the Spring of 2015 and continuing through January of 2018, Smith distributed more than a pound of methamphetamine around the Missoula area.  Smith also exchanged firearms for methamphetamine on several occasions. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott and investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime.  Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.