BILLINGS, Mont. – A Crow Agency man was sentenced on Friday, to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the traffic of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. This comes after he admitted to taking part in a multi-state organized conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine that was based out of the Crow Indian Reservation.
Recently there was another case where an individual was sentenced to prison for similar charges.
Jeffrey Prettypaint (30) pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth in September 2023. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided, and the court allowed Prettypaint to self-surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
According to court documents, the government alleged that in a coordinated effort with local and tribal law enforcement, federal law enforcement investigated a large-scale narcotics trafficking organization that spanned multiple states which was centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation.
The properties were a supply source of meth for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservations as well as the Billings community between Jan 2022 and March 2023. Prettypaint is one of roughly two dozen defendants facing charges as part of the conspiracy and is described as being in the “mid-level” of the organized conspiracy.
The government allegations claimed that Prettypaint was in direct communication with major players above him in the distribution ring. He had the ability to go to one of the known properties the ring centered around, Spear Siding, as well as other properties and acquire meth directly.
In Feb 2023, Prettypaint sent the following text message to one of the main suppliers and co-conspirators:
“…we picked up 3oz this morning but we need 4oz, Hahaha, ask [co-conspirator] if he can tip me hahaha 3+3+4=10 zips in 5 days, and Tell [co-conspirator 2] may I please have an Xmas bonus or some crystal tips. Pretty sure [co-conspirator 3] n I clesring [sic] a quarter pound a day not. Everyone coming to us.”
Prettypaint also had knowledge of a “safe house” belonging to a co-conspirator where they could acquire both meth and fentanyl. In Sept 2022, Prettypaint notified an individual that a pound of meth could be purchased for $6,000 from Spear Siding. That individual then went to Spear Siding and purchased a half pound of meth for #3000.
It was further suggested that Prettypaint had excellent skill at dealing meth. He provided suggestions in his own messages to co-conspirators on how they could improve sales.
A top co-conspirator discussed expanding their business with Prettypaint and directed Prettypaint to think of a “few other peeps who might want to purchase or who can be great distributors,” and to consider other locations where they might be able to distribute. In response, Prettypaint told the co-conspirator that if they wanted to improve sales they needed to “expand to other locations and start using cash apps.”
Throughout investigation, law enforcement officials came to the conclusion that Prettypaint had been supplied meth from sources for Spear Siding and that he was responsible for redistributing meth.
The prosecution was carried out by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration, and FBI.
This case was initiated as part of the initiative for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is a program that brings together law enforcement of all levels with the communities they serve in an effort to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to protect the safety of the general public.
On May 26, 2021, PSN launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen its initiative behind these core principles: “fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results”.
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