GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A Washington state man authorities dubbed the “Kingpin” of a drug pipeline funneling poison onto the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation received a decade-plus federal sentence Monday. Anthony Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Federal prosecutors detailed a large-scale operation where Infante served as a primary distributor of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Between October 2022 and February 2023, Infante amassed a terrifying stockpile: over 10 pounds of meth – equivalent to roughly 35,240 doses – nearly 4,000 fentanyl pills, and approximately 37 grams of cocaine. Sources within law enforcement identified him as the “Kingpin,” and he brazenly carried firearms while peddling his deadly wares.
The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Rocky Boy’s Police Department, and Montana Highway Patrol, began to tighten its grip in December 2022. A routine traffic stop revealed 100 fentanyl pills, two pistols, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the vehicle Infante occupied. He initially claimed the drugs were for personal use – a claim authorities didn’t buy. Ten days later, another traffic stop on the reservation yielded a half-pound of meth, another 100 fentanyl pills, more cocaine, and a loaded 9mm magazine.
The pressure mounted in January with a controlled purchase of 100 fentanyl pills directly from Infante. A third traffic stop turned up even more meth and 76 fentanyl pills. The final blow came in February when the FBI executed a search warrant on the residence where Infante was staying. Agents uncovered a staggering 10.27 pounds of methamphetamine, 3,568 fentanyl pills, and nearly $2,000 in cash – the profits of a ruthless trade in human misery.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana oversaw the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan R. Plaut, Amanda L. Myers, and Stephanie D. Robles handling the case. The sentencing is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust between law enforcement and communities.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the relentless flow of illicit drugs into Montana’s tribal lands and the devastating consequences for residents. While one “Kingpin” is off the streets, the fight against drug trafficking on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation – and across the country – continues. Infante’s sentence sends a message, though whether it’s enough to stem the tide of fentanyl and meth remains to be seen.
Related Federal Cases
- John Mead Ogburn, Meth and Fentanyl Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Utah
- Meth Trafficking Indictments, Montana 2024 · California
- Bret Russell Hamlin, Meth Trafficking, Montana 2023 · Texas
- Armondo Anthony Ronquillo, Stolen Handgun Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Montana
- Quinn Michael Brockman, Fentanyl Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Washington
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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