Crystal Marie Buhler, Meth Conspiracy, Montana 2023

MISSOULA—A Missoula woman who admitted her role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy was sentenced today to 46 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Crystal Marie Buhler, 35, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said Buhler distributed drugs in the Missoula area from the spring of 2018 through June 2019. Witnesses told law enforcement that Buhler, along with a co-defendant, bought heroin from California with money obtained from the co-defendant's meth distribution. Buhler had heroin shipped to her residence for distribution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

Crystal Marie Buhler, a 35-year-old Missoula woman, was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in January. The case, which involved the distribution of heroin in the Missoula area from 2018 to 2019, was investigated by the FBI and the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme stated that Crystal Marie Buhler was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott, who also acknowledged the efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/missoula-woman-sentenced-prison-meth-conspiracy