Oregon Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

HELENA – Joseph Lee Eldabaa, 46, of Albany Oregon was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 60 months’ supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  U.S. District Court Judge Charles C. Lovell issued the sentence.

Eldabaa was charged by superseding information on June 6, 2016 and pleaded guilty to the single count on June 15, 2016.  In documents filed with the court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart stated that, if required to prove its case at trial, the government was prepared to introduce evidence that Eldabaa and various co-defendants transported between three and twelve pounds of methamphetamine from Arizona to Montana with the intent that it be distributed in the Helena area. 

Eldabaa was arrested on February 20, 2015 in Helena.  Following his arrest, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the truck he was driving at the time of the arrest.  Officers found approximately three ounces of methamphetamine in the truck.  Eldabaa told law enforcement that he had also brought eight ounces of methamphetamine into Montana on a prior trip.

The court concurred with the government’s argument that Eldabaa’s sentence should be enhanced because Eldabaa had weapons with him in the truck.  In addition to the Methamphetamine, law enforcement found a loaded .40 caliber handgun with nine rounds in the magazine, brass knuckles, a small folding knife, and marijuana and cash.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.