GREAT FALLS — A Havre man who admitted to supplying large quantities of methamphetamine to individuals on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 68 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Clayton Cree Morsette, 24, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to possession with intent to distribute meth.
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 was charged and convicted in a related case, and her boyfriend, Morsette, worked together to distribute meth from the Spokane area to the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. In addition, 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 multiple bags containing approximately 1.6 pounds of meth. Morsette told an officer that he and Russette had picked up the drugs in Spokane and that some of it was destined for Montana.
Multiple individuals told law enforcement that Morsette was a longtime supplier of large quantities of meth to persons on and around the reservation and described him as working with Russette. Russette previously was sentenced to 124 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, Tri-Agency Drug Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Kalispel Tribe Public Safety Department in Washington and the Airway Heights Police Department in Washington.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.
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