Yevgeniy Rudnitskiy, Fentanyl Trafficking, Great Falls MT, 2023

GREAT FALLS, MT – A Spokane, Washington man is facing a potential two-decade stretch behind bars after admitting to trafficking fentanyl in Great Falls. Yevgeniy Rudnitskiy, 34, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, a charge stemming from a bust last October.

The bust unfolded when Russell Country Drug Task Force agents were surveilling a motel room as part of a larger drug investigation. Agents watched as Rudnitskiy and co-defendant Kelly Sterling Wait, of Williston, North Dakota, left the room and entered a vehicle. Shortly after, the pair began attempting to steal from trucks in a nearby parking lot, raising further suspicion.

Montana Highway Patrol intervened, stopping the vehicle. Wait, the driver, was found to be carrying a loaded pistol tucked into his waistband, along with a fanny pack. Rudnitskiy, seated in the passenger seat, had a bundle of cash and a bag within reach. A search of the vehicle revealed the true scope of the operation: 186 fentanyl pills were discovered in Wait’s fanny pack, while a staggering six bags, each containing 100 fentanyl pills, were stashed in the trunk. Another 60 pills were found in the area where Rudnitskiy had been sitting. Law enforcement seized $3,734 in cash from both the defendant and the passenger area.

Federal prosecutors say Rudnitskiy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and at least three years of supervised release after serving his time. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris will determine the final sentence on May 25, taking into account federal sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. Rudnitskiy remains in custody pending that hearing.

Wait, Rudnitskiy’s accomplice, recently entered a guilty plea in the same case and is awaiting his own sentencing date. The investigation was a joint effort by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Montana Highway Patrol, and the Great Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is leading the prosecution.

The case highlights the continued flow of deadly fentanyl into Montana communities, and the ongoing efforts of federal and local law enforcement to stem the tide. The ATF Denver Field Division assisted in the investigation, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks across state lines.

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