Kevin Clarence Bell, Fentanyl Trafficking, Montana 2022

Great Falls Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

GREAT FALLS  — Kevin Clarence Bell, a 45-year-old Great Falls man, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after admitting to trafficking fentanyl in the community.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bell pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, a highly addictive and often deadly synthetic opioid.

The investigation into Bell’s activities began in October 2021, when law enforcement in Great Falls received information about individuals distributing fentanyl pills, which were being received in the mail from out-of-state sources.

In November 2021, law enforcement seized 372 fentanyl pills from Bell’s son and co-defendant, Ian Stewart. Following Stewart’s arrest, agents learned that Bell was making trips to Phoenix, Arizona, and the group was receiving packages of fentanyl from Phoenix.

In January 2022, law enforcement seized a package intended for Bell and another individual. The package contained 642 fentanyl pills, worth approximately $25,000 to $30,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case, which involved the coordination of several law enforcement agencies, including the Russell Country Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Great Falls Police Department.

Kevin Clarence Bell, 45, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which is a serious crime with severe consequences. His sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the harm caused by his fentanyl trafficking activities.

The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against the opioid epidemic and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle fentanyl trafficking networks.

The exact date of the sentencing was not specified in the report, but it is known that the case involved several law enforcement agencies and resulted in a significant seizure of fentanyl pills.

Kevin Clarence Bell’s son, Ian Stewart, has also pleaded guilty to charges in the case and is pending sentencing.

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