Meth & Mayhem: Garett Gets 12 Years

MISSOULA, MT – A motorcycle chase and a loaded backpack landed Spokane, WA, man Lance Howard Garett, 42, a 12-year federal prison sentence. Garett pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced today.

The bust originated on September 21, 2019, in Granite County. A Montana Highway Patrol officer pursued Garett on a motorcycle before finally searching the suspect’s backpack. What they found wasn’t souvenirs. Inside were two handguns, a quantity of methamphetamine, and heroin – a one-stop shop for illegal activity. Garett reportedly confessed to fleeing because of the illicit contents he was carrying.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy handed down the sentence, including a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott led the prosecution, building the case with evidence gathered by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Highway Patrol. The government presented evidence showing Garett wasn’t just holding; he was actively involved in moving product.

Federal officials are framing this case as a win within broader initiatives aimed at stemming the tide of violent crime. This prosecution falls under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s program focused on reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws. It also ties into Project Safe Neighborhoods, a DOJ effort to aggressively tackle violent crime across the nation.

Montana has seen a disturbing surge in violent crime in recent years. FBI Uniform Crime Reports indicate a 36% increase between 2013 and 2018. Federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement are now concentrating their efforts on methamphetamine-driven violence, armed robbery, illegal firearms, and the apprehension of violent offenders with outstanding warrants. Garett’s case serves as a stark example of the connections between drug trafficking and gun violence that these initiatives seek to disrupt.

The 12-year sentence sends a clear message: bringing guns and drugs across state lines, and attempting to evade law enforcement, will result in significant federal prison time. Garett will have plenty of time to reflect on his choices behind bars, while investigators continue to dismantle the networks that fuel the flow of illegal narcotics into Montana.