(GREAT FALLS) Michael Christopher Laird of California was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted on methamphetamine charges.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at the hearing.
Laird, 26 years old, pleaded guilty on August 23 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
An investigation began in March when Great Falls Police officers responded to a business for a shoplifting call in which Laird was present with a suspect.
Information from text messages and other evidence showed that Laird was involved in sending meth to Great Falls and wiring money to California.
A Great Falls resident claimed Laird and another person broke into his home looking for a package of meth and threatened to attack him with a machete if he didn’t get the package. The resident gave Laird the package.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Russell Country Drug Task Force.
