Montana Men Sentenced to Prison for Meth Offense

MISSOULA - Christopher Cole, a 46-year-old resident of Billings, and Nathan Hale, A 39-year-old resident of Frenchtown, were sentenced today to 72 months and 120 months in prison respectively to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy handed down the sentence.  The methamphetamine recovered from Cole was more than 98% pure and contained 1352 doses.

Between December of 2013 and March of 2015, Cole and Hale conspired to distribute several pounds of methamphetamine throughout the Flathead Valley.  They were obtaining this methamphetamine from out of state suppliers who were believed to be directly related to a Mexican Cartel.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott and investigated by the Northwest Drug 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.