Posted on 07/23/2020 4:05:20 PM PDT by ransomnote
BILLINGS— A Billings man convicted of bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to the community and of possessing firearms was sentenced today to 26 years and 10 months in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
After a two-day trial in March, a jury found Maurice Joseph Fregia, 33, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
“Fregia's sentencing should put all meth dealers on notice that they face long prison terms if they plan to push this highly addictive drug into our communities and use firearms to further their trade. We will continue to prosecute dealers like Fregia and his co-conspirators to the full extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Alme said.
The prosecution presented evidence at trial that Fregia, along with co-defendant Chad Beres, headed a large drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of meth and other drugs into Montana from California. In April 2018, law enforcement officers with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force served three search warrants on three Billings residences, including a house where Fregia and Beres lived. Both Fregia and Beres were present during the search. Officers found almost 700 grams of meth, which is about 1.5 pounds and about 5,600 doses, sticking out of a clothes dryer vent, $14,538 in currency, jewelry, including a Rolex watch in Beres’ room, other drugs and various firearms and ammunition. Beres pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
During the search of a second residence, occupied by co-defendant Larry Barnett, agents found meth and a handgun. Barnett, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, admitted he had received multiple pounds of meth from Fregia and Beres and had seen both men with firearms.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Julie Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, the FBI and the Billings Police Department.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, 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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He didn’t get as much time as White Boy Rick! Life without parole. He was 17 years old when convicted in Michigan.. Rick Wershe
They knew already - and decided the monopolistic profits were too good to pass up.
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