FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 18, 2007
KELLY MAYES SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on October 17, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, KELLY MAYES, a 45-year-old resident of Brentwood, California, appeared for sentencing. MAYES was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 96 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 5 years
MAYES was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.
At the sentencing proceeding, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Beginning in approximately June of 2004, and continuing until approximately June of 2005, Richard Todd, Samuel Ireland, Timothy Bayes, Thomas Long, MAYES, and other individuals conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine or over 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. They traveled from Brentwood, California, by automobile and by commercial airline to Billings transporting methamphetamine and/or U.S. currency.
Todd and Ireland then used a network of associates to distribute methamphetamine throughout Billings.
In Billings, Todd and Ireland used a network of associates who distributed an array of quantities all over Billings. According to Todd and Ireland, the source of supply for the methamphetamine after June of 2004 was Timothy Bayes.
Ireland was Todd's primary contact point in Billings. Ireland and Todd maintained "stash houses" and moved the methamphetamine from location to location. The locations included Long's residence in Billings. The stash house was maintained by Long to secrete the methamphetamine that was kept in a safe.
Testimony would have been shown that Ireland and Todd made multiple visits to Long's residence during the period of the conspiracy. Testimony would have confirmed the use of Long's residence for the storage and concealment of methamphetamine and money. Further testimony would have shown that Long was paid for the use of his home as a "stash" house for methamphetamine.
Todd, MAYES, and Ireland owned and operated a rap music label, Gramkracker Entertainment. Gramkracker Entertainment was used for money laundering purposes. Todd, Ireland, MAYES and others sent thousands of dollars via Western Union between California and Billings. Todd, MAYES, and Ireland also used Federal Express to send drug proceeds to California. On or about April 8, 2005, MAYES used Federal Express to ship money orders that represented the proceeds of methamphetamine sales.
MAYES contributed to the conspiracy in many ways. She conducted financial transactions affecting interstate and foreign commerce by sending the following amounts by Western Union. MAYES knew that the property involved in the financial transaction represented proceeds from the unlawful distribution of methamphetamine.
Todd, Ireland, Bayes and Long pled guilty to federal charges. Todd, Ireland and Bayes have been sentenced and Long is awaiting sentencing.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MAYES will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MAYES does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
