Date: 03-17-2018

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:16-cr-00113-SPW

Judge: SPW

Court: United States District Court for the District of Montana (Yellowstone County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Brendan P. McCarthy

Defendant's Attorney: David A. Merchant, II

Description: Billings, MT - Wyoming Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution

Emmanuel Arce-Gaxiola, a 29 year-old resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. Arce-Gaxiola was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

In May 2015, Arce-Gaxiola sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on two separate occasions in Billings. Agents with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force then executed search warrants on his vehicle and hotel room and seized approximately 388 grams of pure methamphetamine.

In total, agents seized 415 grams of pure methamphetamine during the investigation. That converts to 3,320 individual dosage units of the drug that reached drug users in Montana.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. The sentencing was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 48 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment.

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Defendant's Experts:

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