MILES CITY, MT – Elmer Richard Petersen, 45, of Gillette, Wyoming, is headed to federal prison for a decade and more after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms in the Miles City area. Petersen received a 12-year sentence followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced Friday.
The bust began in October 2021 when law enforcement pulled over Petersen on suspicion of drug trafficking. While initially released, his vehicle was seized and a subsequent search uncovered a significant haul: roughly three pounds of methamphetamine, $10,000 in cash, and a 9mm pistol. Petersen, already a prohibited person due to a prior felony conviction in Wyoming, was far from finished.
Just two months later, in December 2021, police received a tip that Petersen was back in Miles City. Officers located him at a local hotel and attempted to execute an outstanding warrant from Wyoming. Rather than comply, Petersen took off running, leading officers on a short foot chase before being apprehended. A search of his person revealed a .380-caliber pistol tucked in his pocket, further cementing the firearms charges.
The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was a joint effort involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the Montana Highway Patrol, and the Miles City Police Department. The investigation highlights the coordinated approach taken by federal and local agencies to combat drug trafficking and gun violence in Montana.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to foster collaboration between law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime. According to the Department of Justice, PSN focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and measuring results. The program was recently strengthened with a new violent crime reduction strategy.
Petersen’s sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, sends a clear message: trafficking methamphetamine and illegally carrying firearms will not be tolerated in Montana. The combined drug and weapons charges underscore the dangerous intersection of these crimes, and the lengthy sentence reflects the seriousness of Petersen’s offenses. Clair J. Howard, Clair.Howard@usdoj.gov, 406-247-4623, was the contact for this case.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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