Sidney meth trafficker sentenced to 15 years in prison

BILLINGS  — A Sidney man who admitted to trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the community after law enforcement seized more than six pounds of the drug from his car was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Markel Dean Brown, 60, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in January 2022, law enforcement learned that Brown was distributing meth in Sidney and coordinated a controlled purchase of a half-pound of meth from Brown for $1,500. Investigators further learned that Brown would be traveling out of state to pick up a supply of meth and that Brown went to Texas. The Montana Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Brown’s vehicle when it returned to Montana and ultimately served a search warrant on the vehicle. Law enforcement seized three packages of 100 percent pure meth totaling 6.6 pounds. Agents also searched Brown’s cell phone and found messages that discussed the coordination of Brown picking up meth in Texas. The total amount of meth seized from Brown was 7.1 pounds, which is the equivalent of 25,730 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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