Dallas Edward Howard, Jr. Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls on January 20, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DALLAS EDWARD HOWARD, JR., a 52-year-old resident of Poplar, appeared for sentencing. HOWARD was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 72 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: six years

HOWARD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of public housing.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Wolfe, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In August of 2009, the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force began to investigate claims that HOWARD was manufacturing methamphetamine. The task force obtained pseudoephedrine logs maintained by local pharmacies. HOWARD's name appeared on the logs as a regular purchaser of the drug. The task force also obtained witness statements that HOWARD was manufacturing methamphetamine and that HOWARD had sustained serious burns on his body in May of 2009 from attempting to manufacture methamphetamine. Medical reports obtained from the hospital in Wolf Point confirmed that HOWARD had sustained burns on his body in May of 2009.

On August 30, 2009, the task force executed a search warrant on HOWARD's residence in Frazier, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. HOWARD's residence was located within 1,000 feet of public housing owned and maintained by the Fort Peck Tribe. The task force discovered an active methamphetamine lab. HOWARD was present when the task force executed the search warrant. The task force found jars and cooking pots in HOWARD's kitchen containing unknown liquids. Laboratory tests returned positive results of methamphetamine and other chemical agents used to produce methamphetamine from the jars and pots collected from HOWARD's kitchen. The task force also discovered a small amount of finished methamphetamine, as well as pseudoephedrine.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HOWARD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HOWARD does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Big Muddy River Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.