Rene Myron Gardner, Meth Conspiracy, Montana 2018

Missoula, Montana - A meth dealer from Marion, Montana, has been sentenced to prison for his role in selling the deadly substance to an undercover agent in 2018.

Rene Myron Gardner, 62, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On February 8, 2019, Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen sentenced Gardner to 1 year and 1 day in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Gardner conspired with others to sell methamphetamine in the fall of 2018. An undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives purchased about an ounce of meth from Gardner at his residence for $1,000.

Then, in November 2018, the agent purchased an ounce of meth and a sawed-off shotgun from one of Gardner's co-conspirators. The meth deal occurred at Gardner's residence, while the group went to the co-conspirator's residence to complete the shotgun purchase. The agent paid $1,250 for the meth and $500 for the firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF. This case is part of Project Guardian, a recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative to reduce violent crime.

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports show that violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses, and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/meth-dealer-marion-sentenced-prison