Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on June 11, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DEAMARR FAYE DAWN RUTHERFORD, a 43-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine in a public housing facility. Sentencing is set for September 18, 2008.

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

On November 27, 2006, a cooperating witness of the Blackfeet Safe Trails Task Force (BSTTF) performed an undercover controlled substance purchase from RUTHERFORD, aka "Mouse," under the direction of BSTTF. At the time of this purchase, RUTHERFORD knew that the substance was methamphetamine. The exchange took place in Seville Housing, a public housing community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The substance purchased weighed approximately 2 grams, and was tested by the Drug Enforcement Administration and found to be 67% pure methamphetamine.

On December 5, 2007, a cooperating witness of the BSTTF performed another undercover controlled substance purchase from RUTHERFORD under the direction of BSTTF. At the time of this purchase, RUTHERFORD knew that the substance was methamphetamine. The exchange again took place in the Seville Housing community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The substance purchased weighed approximately 1.5 grams, was tested by the DEA and found to be 26% pure methamphetamine.

RUTHERFORD faces possible penalties of a minimum of 1 year in prison and could be sentenced to 60 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least 12 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation in Browning.