A California man admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement officials found roughly a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Livingston.
Michael Romie Cervantes, 48, of Fresno, California, was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop of Cervantes’ vehicle on March 25, 2021. During the stop, the trooper suspected Cervantes and the passenger in the vehicle were involved in criminal activity. The trooper executed a search warrant and found a backpack with roughly one pound of meth inside in the vehicle.
Officials say one pound of meth equals 3,624 doses.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana released the following information:
A California man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law enforcement found about a pound of the drug in his vehicle in Livingston was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Michael Romie Cervantes, 48, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty in July to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on March 25, 2021 in Livingston, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Cervantes was driving. The trooper developed reasonable suspicion that Cervantes and his passenger were involved in criminal activity. Upon execution of a search warrant, the officer found about one pound of meth in a backpack in the vehicle. One pound of meth is the equivalent of 3,624 doses,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie R. Patten prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Highway Patrol.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on 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.