Robert Dean Boucher Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 8, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ROBERT DEAN BOUCHER, a 52-year-old resident of Spokane, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing has been set for April 8, 2013. He is currently detained.

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

During January 2012, detectives originally became alerted to a methamphetamine distribution ring from Washington state to Great Falls, Montana. In June 2012, detectives learned of an individual, M.E.A., who made repeated trips from Great Falls to Washington to obtain methamphetamine to re-sell in Great Falls. On June 29, 2012, a CI (confidential informant) informed the drug task force that M.E.A. was returning to Great Falls from Washington with methamphetamine. The task force arranged for a controlled drug buy from M.E.A. near the University of Great Falls. The CI purchased methamphetamine. The CI then continued to make numerous controlled drug buys from M.E.A. over the next few days.

Law enforcement located M.E.A.'s car in early July 2012, and the task force tracked this car from Great Falls to Spokane, Washington. The car stayed in Spokane for less than two hours before returning to Great Falls. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the car just outside of Great Falls and they obtained two ounces of methamphetamine. M.E.A., the driver of the car, told law enforcement he had traveled to Spokane to buy methamphetamine from "Bert." He had been supplied by Bert, who was identified as Robert Boucher, since February or March 2012. In total, M.E.A. believed he had obtained and distributed approximately ten ounces of methamphetamine that he received from Boucher.

M.E.A. told law enforcement that Boucher provided him with a GPS system in order for M.E.A. to find Boucher's house in Spokane. Once M.E.A. obtained the methamphetamine from Boucher, M.E.A. would sell the methamphetamine by the gram for $100 around Great Falls. Boucher sold the methamphetamine to M.E.A. for $1400.00 an ounce.

M.E.A. and Boucher also dealt methamphetamine with R.L. and T.L. from T.L.'s house in Great Falls. The methamphetamine dealing continued into the fall of 2012. During the end of October 2012, detectives interviewed additional witnesses. One witness said T.L. was heavily involved in using and dealing methamphetamine. T.L. obtained her methamphetamine from Robert Boucher, and Boucher delivered methamphetamine to T.L. approximately once a week.

The witness further provided that Boucher stored the methamphetamine in the hood and trunk of his car. He then divided the methamphetamine between the sellers who obtained the methamphetamine on credit. Boucher stayed in town at T.L.'s house until the money was collected. T.L. would then repackage the methamphetamine into eight-ball baggies and distribute it to other sellers.

On November 13, 2012, a witness contacted the drug task force and stated R.L. was selling methamphetamine. Law enforcement then arranged controlled drug purchases from R.L.. These purchases occurred at the Royal Motel in Great Falls. The following evening, detectives saw R.L. drive to T.L.'s house, where he stayed for a half hour before again returning to his motel room. A little while later, R.L. and a woman drove to a gas station. R.L. conducted a drug deal in the parking lot. Officers conducted a traffic stop on R.L.'s car shortly thereafter.

After ordering R.L. out of the car, officers found a glass container of methamphetamine in R.L.'s pocket. He spoke with law enforcement and said he had been dealing methamphetamine with T.L. R.L. regularly purchased two eight balls of methamphetamine per week from T.L. R.L. also identified Boucher as one of T.L.'s suppliers and said he delivered methamphetamine to T.L. once per week. Law enforcement seized over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine in this investigation.

BOUCHER faces possible penalties of a minimum 10 years in prison up to life in prison, a $10, 000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Russell County Drug Task Force.