Sean Kelly, Meth Distribution, Montana 2014

A Columbia Falls man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring.

Sean Michael Kelly, 37, of Columbia Falls, was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 5 years supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy on March 14, 2014.

According to court documents, Kelly pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in December 2013. Investigators with the Northwest Drug Task Force received information from a confidential source that Kelly was actively involved in the distribution of methamphetamine and made daily rounds throughout the valley to resupply people selling drugs for him.

Agents obtained a search warrant to attach a GPS tracking device to Kelly’s vehicle, which they followed between Idaho and Montana between December 6, 2012, and January 3, 2013.

On January 3, 2013, deputies observed Kelly’s vehicle traveling on Hwy 83 with a headlight out. A traffic stop was conducted, and Kelly was detained on an active warrant for his arrest. The vehicle was then towed to a Flathead County secure storage facility in anticipation of a search warrant.

On January 7, 2013, agents applied for and received a Montana State District Court search warrant for the 2002 Chevrolet Pickup truck. During the search, agents located a black zippered case inside a coat on the front passenger seat of the truck. Inside the case, they found six syringes, a spoon, and a jewel bag containing 1 gram of methamphetamine. Further search of the vehicle revealed a package wrapped in several layers of plastic, coffee grounds, carbon paper, and duct tape, containing approximately 423 grams of pure methamphetamine.

The term ‘pure methamphetamine’ refers to the purity contained in the transacted amount, which is usually ‘cut’ with inert ingredients to make the actual product less pure but more profitable, as drugs are generally sold based on quantity not quality.

The mandatory facts of this case include: