Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena on April 1, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, ANTHONY NORMAN SMITH, a 32-year-old resident of Bozeman, and RODRICK NATHAN BEECH, a 37-year-old resident of Townsend, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. BEECH also pled guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is set for July 25, 2008. BEECH is currently released on special conditions and SMITH was detained.

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

Between April of 2006, and continuing through July of 2007, BEECH and SMITH were involved in a conspiracy with several other individuals to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine in Meagher, Mineral, Lewis and Clark, and Gallatin counties.

BEECH faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.

SMITH faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life in prison, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bozeman and Helena Missouri River Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Meagher County Sheriff's Office, the Mineral County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol.

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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.