GREAT FALLS, MT – Courtney Price, 28, of Great Falls, is headed to federal prison after admitting her role in a cross-state drug trafficking operation. Price was sentenced today to three years and two months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
The case stems from a February 8, 2023, traffic stop where law enforcement pulled over a vehicle Price was driving. A subsequent search, authorized by a state warrant, revealed a deadly cocktail of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a firearm. The bust wasn’t a random stop; it was the culmination of an investigation by a multi-agency task force targeting larger criminal networks.
According to court documents, Price confessed to knowing about the fentanyl stashed in the vehicle. She admitted she was being paid in the potent opioid to transport passengers from Tacoma, Washington, to Great Falls. The arrangement paints a picture of a calculated scheme – a clear intent to distribute the dangerous drugs upon arrival in Montana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott led the prosecution, highlighting the seriousness of the charges and the damage fentanyl and meth inflict on communities. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations, and the Russell Country Drug Task Force.
This case was investigated under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a federal program designed to dismantle high-level criminal organizations. OCDETF leverages intelligence and a multi-agency approach to target the most significant drug trafficking threats facing the nation. The Justice Department emphasizes this is not just about one arrest, but about disrupting the entire supply chain.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentence, signaling a firm stance against drug trafficking in Montana. While three years is the initial prison term, Price will remain under federal supervision for an additional three years after her release, a condition designed to prevent recidivism. The investigation continues, and authorities haven’t ruled out further charges or arrests related to this operation.
Related Federal Cases
- Luis Felipe Lopez Zamora, Fentanyl-Pill Trafficking, California 2022 · Iowa
- Quinn Michael Brockman, Fentanyl Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Washington
- Sean James Edwards, Fentanyl Trafficking, Washington 2024 · Montana
- Missoula Man Convicted of Armed Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking · Utah
- John Mead Ogburn, Meth and Fentanyl Trafficking, Montana 2024 · Utah
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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