FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 18, 2007
JOSEPH PONCE 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 Billings on October 18, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JOSEPH PONCE, a 71-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for January 17, 2008. He is currently released on special conditions.
At the change of plea proceeding, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On April 4, 2006, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at PONCE'S residence in Billings and seized 815 grams of methamphetamine and $8,023 cash. This cash was proceeds from methamphetamine sales.
PONCE was interviewed and admitted to selling methamphetamine since 1988 to finance his lifestyle. He also admitted selling approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine per month for approximately the last five years. He was selling the methamphetamine for redistribution to approximately five or six individuals.
PONCE faces possible penalties a mandatory 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 James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
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