Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Busted in Montana

In a major crackdown on methamphetamine trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the arrest and indictment of multiple individuals in Montana. At the center of the operation was James Anthony Lovenguth, a 38-year-old resident of Havre, who faces 40 years in prison, $5,000,000 in fines and 4 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, which include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under Information, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Lovenguth was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula on January 15, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Lovenguth’s co-defendant, Tanda Aurora Trout, a 36-year-old resident of Havre, also entered a plea of Not Guilty and faces 20 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, which include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The operation also targeted Harlan Jerome Deane Mad Plume, a 19-year-old resident of Browning, who was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Johnston in Great Falls on January 13, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Mad Plume faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release if convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, which includes assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

In another high-profile case, Octavio Guadalupe Garcia-Morales, a 29-year-old resident of Mexico, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula on January 13, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Garcia-Morales faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, which include conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of heroin. The case was investigated by the Northwest Montana Drug Task Force.

Additionally, George Leslie Manlove, a 58-year-old resident of Eagle, Idaho, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula on January 12, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Manlove faces 30 years in prison, $1,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, which include conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, false statement to federal insured bank, bankruptcy fraud, and money laundering. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service.

The crackdown also included the arrest of Paul Lyn Nisbet, a 46-year-old resident of Missoula, who was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Lynch in Missoula on January 12, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Nisbet faces 5 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and 3 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, which includes conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service.

Lastly, Charity Leigh Mendonsa, a 39-year-old resident of Cathedral City, California, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Ostby in Billings on January 12, 2016, and entered a plea of Not Guilty. Mendonsa faces life in prison, $10,000,000 in fines and 5 years supervised release if convicted of the most serious charges contained in the indictment, which include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine.