Leland Neil Lapier, Jr., Methamphetamine Distribution, Montana 2013

Defendant Found Guilty of Methamphetamine Distribution in Montana

Great Falls, Montana - In a shocking turn of events, Leland Neil Lapier, Jr., a 28-year-old resident of Great Falls, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, from September 2011, through September 2012, Louis Kanyid brought pounds of actual (pure) methamphetamine from Kennewick, Washington, to Great Falls. Kanyid spoke with law enforcement and said one of his original contacts in Great Falls was LAPIER's sister. Kanyid met her through Craig's List, and she began to purchase and sell methamphetamine provided by Kanyid. Eventually, though, LAPIER took over her position.

Kanyid regularly provided LAPIER with half of the methamphetamine that he brought to town. LAPIER lived with his girlfriend in Great Falls and he conducted his methamphetamine business from the garage. Customers met LAPIER and Kanyid in the garage so that neighbors would not witness the drug transactions. Kanyid paid his methamphetamine supplier $1,200 per ounce and never sold an ounce of methamphetamine in Great Falls for less than $2,000. Kanyid claimed an ounce of methamphetamine could actually be bought for $3,200 in Great Falls.

At one point, Kanyid and LAPIER engaged in a contest to see how much methamphetamine each could sell in one day in Great Falls. According to Kanyid, himself and LAPIER made $6,000 each in one day. In August 2012, Kanyid sold five pounds of methamphetamine in Great Falls, including two pounds directly to LAPIER. Law enforcement eventually seized approximately 38 grams of pure methamphetamine from Kanyid's hotel room.

Law enforcement also arrested Kanyid's girlfriend, Joelle Jones, for her involvement in this methamphetamine conspiracy. Jones later told agents that Kanyid spent a great amount of time with LAPIER. In fact, when police arrested Kanyid, LAPIER immediately called Jones to warn her of the arrest. Jones later took a taxi to LAPIER's house that night and LAPIER's girlfriend provided Jones with a car to drive back to Washington. Jones returned to Great Falls again a week later to meet with LAPIER.

LAPIER is set to be sentenced on September 24, 2013. He faces charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley. The investigation was led by law enforcement in Great Falls, who worked tirelessly to bring LAPIER to justice.

LAPIER's sentencing will mark the end of a long and complex investigation that saw multiple defendants plead guilty to various methamphetamine crimes. LAPIER's guilty verdict serves as a reminder that those involved in the distribution of methamphetamine will be held accountable for their actions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/leland-neil-lapier-jr-found-guilty-us-federal-court