FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 17, 2008
HEATHER HEDGES 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 January 16, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, HEATHER HEDGES (FRANKLIN), a 31-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. HEDGES was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 30 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 4 years
HEDGES was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana.
At the sentencing proceeding, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
During 2003 and 2004, HEDGES was involved in a conspiracy with other individuals to possess with the intent to distribute over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of marijuana in the Billings area.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HEDGES will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HEDGES 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 and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
