Raymond Reland Eli Johns Sentenced in U.S. District Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 29, 2011 |
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on July 28, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, RAYMOND RELAND ELI JOHNS, a 35-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared for sentencing. JOHNS was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 52 months
Special Assessment: $400
Supervised Release: Four years
JOHNS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to distribution of marijuana to persons under the age of 21.
In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
JOHNS came to the attention of law enforcement in Lame Deer when allegations surfaced that JOHNS had distributed marijuana on numerous occasions to minors in the Lame Deer area. Law enforcement interviewed a juvenile who reported that JOHNS regularly paid him in marijuana for babysitting JOHNS’ children. This occurred from 2008, through the day before a drug search warrant was served on JOHNS’ residence in April 2010. JOHNS also gave the juvenile marijuana on other occasions and smoked it with him at JOHNS’ residence in Lame Deer.
Law enforcement also interviewed another juvenile who reported that JOHNS regularly sold him marijuana from 2005-2007 at his residence. The juvenile reported that JOHNS had sold marijuana to him from 2008-2010.
A third juvenile disclosed to law enforcement that JOHNS had sold marijuana to him in approximately 2009. All of the juveniles were under the age of 21 when JOHNS, who was in his 30s, sold them the marijuana.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the “truth in sentencing” guidelines mandate that JOHNS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, JOHNS 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.