MISSOULA — Juan Jose Romero, a major drug supplier in Butte, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison today for trafficking methamphetamine. The sentence includes five years of supervised release after his conviction for possession with intent to distribute meth, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
The 39-year-old defendant pleaded guilty in December 2023. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the sentencing hearing.
Court documents allege Romero was a major supplier of drugs in Butte, with a source revealing they had purchased heroin from him while he was in the Butte Pre-Release Center. Agents tracked down Romero at his apartment after learning he had absconded from felony supervision and found a loaded .22 magazine, two cell phones, and drug paraphernalia.
In December 2022, Butte law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Romero’s vehicle, uncovering 29 grams of meth, two firearms, drug paraphernalia, and 14 suspected fentanyl pills. Romero confessed to selling meth during the traffic stop.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI.
This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across communities. Launched in 2021, PSN strengthens enforcement strategies by fostering trust, supporting community-based organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring results to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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