Hardin man sentenced to seven years in prison for role in large meth trafficking ring centered on Crow Indian Reservation

BILLINGS  — A Hardin man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine as part of a large-scale drug trafficking ring centered on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of  supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Darlon Richard Lefthand, 37, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

In court documents, the government alleged that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, investigated a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking operation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one known as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of meth for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Darlon Lefthand is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation.

The government alleged that Lefthand was considered in the mid-level of the distribution ring and was involved with major players above him. Lefthand could go to the Spear Siding property to obtain drugs for himself and others. Lefthand also used Facebook to obtain meth from Spear Siding and to set up drug deals. In September 2022, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of approximately one ounce of meth from Lefthand.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.

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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