FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
RANDY L. GATEWOOD 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 Missoula, on November 21, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, RANDY L. GATEWOOD, a 21-year-old resident of Bozeman, appeared for sentencing. GATEWOOD was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 36 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 5 years
GATEWOOD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Between early 2005 and February of 2007, an individual, hereafter referred to as "John Doe," distributed cocaine in Bozeman.
Testimony would have been given that during that time period, "John Doe" received and distributed approximately 36 ounces of cocaine each month.
On May 16, 2007, GATEWOOD was interviewed by an FBI agent. GATEWOOD stated that near the beginning of 2006, GATEWOOD moved to Bozeman and that he knew "John Doe" through his brother.
GATEWOOD stated that "John Doe" distributed cocaine to several other drug dealers in the Bozeman area and that those drug dealers, in turn, distributed cocaine to others in Bozeman.
GATEWOOD also admitted that he acted as a "runner" for "John Doe's" cocaine distribution business between May of 2006 and the end date of the conspiracy. He also admitted that, in his capacity as a runner, he delivered cocaine from "John Doe" to other drug dealers and delivered money from those drug dealers to "John Doe."
The amount of cocaine distributed during the course of the conspiracy was in excess of five kilograms.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that GATEWOOD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, GATEWOOD 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 Joseph E. Thaggard prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Bozeman and the Missouri River Drug Task Force.
