DEANNA DAWN MORSETTE PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on January 16, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DEANNA DAWN MORSETTE, a 36-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for April 27, 2007. She is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Between approximately March of 2003 and September of 2004, MORSETTE, her mother, Margaret Morsette, her sister, Gina Morsette, and other individuals were involved in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Great Falls area.

A confidential source would have testified that he/she began to purchase methamphetamine directly from MORSETTE beginning in December of 2003. The confidential source would have also testified he/she received a total amount of at least 900 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine from MORSETTE.

Margaret Morsette and Gina Morsette pled guilty to federal drug charges and are awaiting sentencing.

MORSETTE faces possible penalties of 40 years in prison, a $2,000,000 fine and 4 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Great Falls Police Department.

United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana
P.O. Box 1478
Billings, MT 59103

CONTACT
Kurt Alme
First Assistant U.S. Attorney
(406) 246-4669