GREAT FALLS – A Le Havre man who admitted supplying large amounts of methamphetamine to individuals on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation was today sentenced to 68 months in prison, followed by five years of probation, the report said. American attorney Leif M. Johnson.
Clayton Cree Morsette, 24, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in 2019, law enforcement officers learned that Kristina Russette, of Spokane, Washington, who had been charged and convicted in a related case, and her boyfriend, Morsette, had worked together to distribute methamphetamine from the Spokane area to the Rocky Boy Reservation. Additionally, in May 2020, Russette was driving a vehicle stopped in Washington for traffic violations. Morsette was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, officers found several bags containing approximately 1.6 pounds of methamphetamine. Morsette told an officer that he and Russette picked up the drugs in Spokane and some was destined for Montana.
Several people told law enforcement that Morsette was a longtime supplier of large amounts of methamphetamine to people on and around the reservation and described him as working with Russette. Russette had previously been sentenced to 124 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, the Tri-Agency Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Kalispel Tribe Public Safety Department in Washington and the Airway Heights Police Department in Washington.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a US Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crimes motivated by meth trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses fire and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
xxx
