Rhonda Jeanette Lapier, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Montana 2021

A Helena woman was sentenced to over five years in prison for her role in trafficking pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas into Montana.

Rhonda Jeanette Lapier, also known as Rhonda Trench, 49, pleaded guilty in October 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Lapier was sentenced to five years and six months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

The investigation began in Great Falls in May, where officers suspected Lapier and a co-defendant of trafficking methamphetamine together.

Officers stopped a vehicle being driven by the co-defendant and found about 3.6 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk.

Later, a search warrant was obtained for Lapier’s residence, where officers located about three pounds of methamphetamine and $6,132 in a bedroom where Lapier had been staying with another person.

According to court documents, several people, including Lapier, had traveled to Las Vegas to pick up methamphetamine, returned with six pounds, and dropped some of it off at Lapier’s residence.

The six pounds of methamphetamine is equivalent to 21,744 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, the Missouri River Drug Task Force, FBI, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, and Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime.

Through PSN, 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.

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