Robert Dean Boucher Sentenced In U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on April 8, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ROBERT DEAN BOUCHER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 135 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 5 years

BOUCHER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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, law enforcement originally became alerted to a methamphetamine distribution ring from Washington state to Great Falls.

In June 2012, law enforcement learned of an individual, Mark Abresch, 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 Abresch was returning to Great Falls from Washington with methamphetamine. The task force arranged for a controlled drug buy from Abresch near the University of Great Falls. The CI purchased methamphetamine. The CI then continued to make numerous controlled drug buys from Abresch over the next few days.

Law enforcement located Abresch'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. Abresch, 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 BOUCHER, since February or March 2012. In total, Abresch believed he had obtained and distributed approximately ten ounces of methamphetamine that he received from BOUCHER.

Abresch told law enforcement that BOUCHER provided him with a GPS system in order for Abresch to find BOUCHER's house in Spokane. Once Abresch obtained the methamphetamine from BOUCHER, Abresch would sell the methamphetamine by the gram for $100 around Great Falls. BOUCHER sold the methamphetamine to Abresch for $1,400 an ounce.

Abresch and BOUCHER also dealt methamphetamine with other individuals in Great Falls. The methamphetamine dealing continued into the fall of 2012. During the end of October 2012, detectives interviewed additional witnesses, several of which stated they had obtained methamphetamine from BOUCHER.

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 an individual's house until the money was collected. This individual would then repackage the methamphetamine into eight-ball baggies and distribute it to other sellers.

Law enforcement seized over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine in this investigation.

Abresch pled guilty to federal charges.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BOUCHER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BOUCHER does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force - Russell County Drug Task Force.