Missoula Fentanyl Dealer Westfall Gets 7+ Years

MISSOULA, MT – Shayden Bradley Westfall, 28, of Missoula, is headed to federal prison for more than seven years after admitting to flooding the city with deadly fentanyl pills. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced the sentence today, a rare bit of good news in a state ravaged by the opioid crisis.

Westfall pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime – a charge that significantly increased his potential sentence. The bust originated late in 2022 when law enforcement caught wind of Westfall’s operation at a Missoula hotel. A search warrant revealed a chilling stockpile: approximately 500 fentanyl pills, enough to kill countless individuals, alongside a quarter pound of methamphetamine.

But the drugs weren’t the only things Westfall was packing. Officers also discovered a .40-caliber pistol. Westfall readily confessed he’d traded the weapon for more fentanyl, a cold calculation that highlights the desperation and moral bankruptcy driving the drug trade. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen handed down the 7 years and 4 months prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release – a consequence Westfall will have plenty of time to consider.

The investigation was a coordinated effort led by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, with crucial support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Missoula Police Department. These agencies are on the front lines, battling a relentless tide of illicit drugs and the violence that accompanies them. This case underscores the need for continued vigilance and resources.

This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program designed to unite law enforcement at all levels with the communities they serve. The goal? To drive down violent crime and gun violence, and to reclaim neighborhoods from the grip of fear and drug-fueled chaos. The current PSN strategy emphasizes building trust, supporting community organizations, focusing enforcement efforts, and – crucially – measuring the results. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.

While Westfall’s conviction represents a temporary win, the fentanyl crisis is far from over. Grimy Times will continue to track these cases and expose the individuals profiting from the misery of others, holding them accountable for the devastation they wreak on our communities.