BILLINGS – A Fishtail man who admitted he transported 178 pounds of methamphetamine into Montana in a major drug smuggling operation was recently sentenced to more than five years in federal prison.
Brett Clouse, 36 of Fishtail, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Billings to 63 months in federal prison on Wednesday for his role as a courier in a large-scale drug operation.
Clouse was first indicted in October of 2015 on six felony charges including conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime.
Clouse entered a plea agreement in June where he pleaded guilty to one county of conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Prosecutors said that even though Clouse was just a “drug mule,” he should have known better because of his experience working as a deputy sheriff in Teton County and Rosebud County from 2006 to 2008.
The drug trafficking scheme began in January of 2013 and continued for more than two years.
In court documents, Clouse is described as a key member of a drug distribution group led by a person named Merrill Clark Gardner.
Clouse and Gardner were friends who hunted together and casually used methamphetamine, according to court documents.
Investigators determined Clouse would make trips to Arizona in a truck provided by Gardner to exchange money for the drugs.
In June of 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gardner’s home.
While the house was being searched, Gardner and Clouse arrived at the home in Gardner’s vehicle.
Clouse was armed with a semi-automatic pistol that was strapped to his ankle, according to court documents.
Clouse told detectives that he and Gardner had just been at a residence in Nye, where Gardner retrieved methamphetamine not long before law enforcement arrived at his Fishtail address.
Investigators searched the Nye residence and located three packages of methamphetamine, totaling six pounds.
Clouse later admitted his involvement in the drug ring and explained that he had paid Gardner’s supplier a total of $200,000 for 20 to 26 pounds of methamphetamine.
Clouse admitted that in total he had received about 178 pounds of methamphetamine and delivered it to Gardner.
All of the methamphetamine seized was tested at high purity level.
Gardner was sentenced in July to 15 years in federal prison.
http://www.krtv.com/story/34257328/former-deputy-sentenced-to-prison-for-trafficking-178-lbs-of-meth
hope he dont make it out of the joint
and 5 years?.. chump sentence
All drugs should be legal for adult use, but I have no sympathy for this turd, since he undoubtedly busted other people for selling or using drugs when he was a cop.
The hypocrisy of pigs just nauseates me. Steroid use among those pricks is rampant, yet they have no qualms about arresting others for illegal drugs. There’s a complete lack of honor there.
You can always tell a casual meth user.
When they pull out their dentures.
UNLESS THEY BROKE HORSES FOR A LIVING AT ONE TIME………….OR…..
PRO HOCKEY PLAYER…….
COMMUNITY ASSHOLE……
CHAIN SMOKER………
BULLET BITER………
BARE KNUCKLE BRAWLER……OR AS THE “LIBERAL” COMMUNITY CALLS “GOD”………..
PROFESSIONAL FAGGOT…. COMPLETE WITH STRETCH MARKS………………………….
Federal mandatory drug sentences
(first time offenders)
Type of drug 5-year sentence 10-year sentence
Methamphetamine 5 grams 50 grams
There are 453.593 grams per pound, so 178 pound would be
80739.554 grams. So how long should his sentence have been?
Are they using common core math in the courts these days.
“Are they using common core math in the courts these days.”
Immaterial if they are.
No remedy to be had in their Admiralty Law courts, regardless.