Missoula man sentenced for meth possession

MISSOULA – Missoula resident Bryce David Koch, 31, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release for conviction in a methamphetamine trafficking case.  Koch pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided at the sentencing.

In October 2017, law enforcement officers received information that Koch was going to Washington and purchasing methamphetamine to bring back for distribution in the Missoula area.  On October 30, 2017, the Montana Highway Patrol stopped Koch in his vehicle near Frenchtown.  A search warrant later revealed the presence of 326 grams of pure methamphetamine, which converts to more than 2,600 dosages that would have otherwise reached users in Montana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 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.

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