Joseph John Hurd Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula on August 7, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, JOSEPH JOHN HURD, a 22-year-old resident of Missoula, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 60 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: five years

HURD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

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

In April, 2012, a confidential informant (CI) agreed to cooperate with the FBI regarding his drug trafficking network by providing specific information about his cocaine suppliers in Spokane, Washington and other persons involved in the distribution of cocaine in Missoula. The CI was introduced to HURD and they brokered a deal for the CI to purchase cocaine from HURD.

Beginning in August 1, 2012, the CI met with HURD to conduct a consensually monitored controlled purchase of cocaine and completed the purchase of 7.2 ounces of cocaine for $7,500. The cocaine field tested positive.

On August 23, 2012, the CI again met with HURD to conduct another consensually monitored controlled purchase of cocaine. Prior to the meeting, the CI and HURD agreed to a transaction of 4.5 ounces of cocaine for $5,000. However, the supplier never arrived and the transaction was not completed.

On August 24, 2012, law enforcement conducted an interview with HURD who admitted he was supposed to have received the ten ounces of cocaine from his supplier the previous date. HURD stated his supplier began supplying him with cocaine in January 2012. HURD had traveled to Othello for the first three transactions in January and February paying $1,000 per ounce when he purchased four ounces the first time, six ounces the second time, and six ounces the third time. HURD stated his supplier began traveling to Missoula to deliver the cocaine in February and continued on a nearly weekly basis until he was arrested. HURD estimated his supplier made about 30 trips to Missoula. HURD admitted he sold the cocaine to numerous local persons in Missoula. The total of the cocaine transactions was more than 500 grams.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HURD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HURD 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 conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.