Florence meth trafficker sentenced to nine years in prison

MISSOULA  — A Florence man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found more than six pounds of the drug, seven firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition during a search of his residence was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jason Charles Allen, 48, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement received information from at least five individuals who discussed Allen’s involvement in trafficking meth in the greater Missoula area. On May 24, 2022, an FBI SWAT team executed a federal search warrant on Allen’s residence. Investigators retrieved meth that Allen was attempting to burn in a fire. Law enforcement also recovered seven firearms, 3,200 rounds of ammunition, more than $8,000 in cash and more than six pounds of meth. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 21,744 doses. Earlier that month, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of meth from Allen.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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