Iren Mann McCurdy Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on February 1, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, IREN MANN McCURDY, a 34-year-old resident of Crow Agency, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing has been set for May 3, 2012. He is currently detained.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been involved in an ongoing investigation related to the distribution of methamphetamine in and around Hardin and the Crow Indian Reservation. As part of that investigation, McCURDY was identified as a user, distributor, and a supplier of methamphetamine.

McCURDY was interviewed twice, most recently on March 23, 2011. McCURDY advised that he used methamphetamine in 2004 and 2005, but that he did not begin using larger quantities of methamphetamine and selling methamphetamine until late 2009. He stated that he had purchased methamphetamine from a number of individuals who were indicted, pled guilty, and sentenced in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine.

In December 2009, McCURDY met a source of methamphetamine from Billings. McCURDY initially purchased methamphetamine for use and sale but, later, the Billings source began fronting methamphetamine to him. Initially, McCURDY would travel to Billings every day to pick up a ¼ ounce or a ½ ounce of methamphetamine, depending upon how much money McCURDY had to purchase methamphetamine. This continued for two to three weeks. When the source began fronting methamphetamine to McCURDY, McCURDY traveled to Billings two to three times per week and picked up an ⅛ ounce of or a ¼ ounce of methamphetamine. This arrangement continued for approximately three weeks to a month. McCURDY described the source’s methamphetamine as the “best product” that he had ever seen around the Hardin area.

McCURDY then partnered with another individual with ties to the Crow Reservation, and they shared the cost of purchasing methamphetamine from the Billings source. During this time, McCURDY would travel to Billings every three days and obtain a ¼ ounce of methamphetamine, which he would then split with his partner. At some point, McCURDY’s eyesight began to deteriorate, and he then would get people to drive him to Billings. This arrangement lasted three to four months until July 2010.

During July through November 2010, McCURDY purchased methamphetamine three times per month—⅛ ounce and ¼ ounce quantities for use and sale.

McCURDY admitted that he still owes his Billings source $6,200 for methamphetamine fronted to him. He estimated that, in total, he received and sold “well over a quarter million dollars” worth of methamphetamine. Early on he was receiving $5,000 to $6,000 worth of methamphetamine a day. He also bartered with the Billings source—jewelry, stereo equipment, car parts, and a four-wheeler, for methamphetamine.

Apart from the Billings source, his partner, and those individuals already charged in federal court, McCURDY identified numerous other individuals that he sold methamphetamine to, used methamphetamine with, and obtained methamphetamine from. During the investigation, many of these individuals have been interviewed and corroborate the information provided by McCURDY.

McCURDY faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and four years’ supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.