Utah Man Sentenced for Drug Charge

BISMARCK– U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on Jan. 30, 2014, Rodney L. Kirk, 46, Spanish Fork, Utah, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine).

Judge Hovland sentenced Kirk to serve four years and two months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Kirk was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

In 2011, Kirk moved from Utah to Williston, North Dakota, for employment. Shortly after arriving in North Dakota, he started importing methamphetamine from Utah with the intent to distribute it in North Dakota. On October 18, 2011, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Kirk’s residence in Williston and found approximately seven ounces of methamphetamine, with a street value of $15,000 - $20,000.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Williston Police Department and the Northwest Narcotics Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hagler prosecuted the case.