Laurel meth trafficker sentenced to more than 14 years in prison

BILLINGS – A Laurel man who admitted meth trafficking and firearms crimes after investigators found seven pounds of the drug along with firearms in a search of his residence was sentenced today to 14 years and nine months in prison and to five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Robert Ernest Frazier II, 46, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2020 to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

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

The government alleged in court documents that in early 2019, agents used a confidential informant to make two controlled drug purchases of about two ounces each time from Frazier. In February 2019, agents executed a search warrant on Frazier’s residence and vehicle and found about seven pounds of meth, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and firearms in his residence. Two pistols were found in the same safe Frazier was using to store his meth. In Frazier’s vehicle, agents found another large stash of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Frazier admitted to being a meth distributor and estimated he had sold nearly one pound of meth per week for the last year. He also stated that he had received a 10-pound delivery of meth the previous week and what was found was what was left of it. Ten pounds of meth is the equivalent of 36,240 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI Western Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

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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