FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
JAMES BLODGETT 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 Missoula on March 18, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, JAMES BLODGETT, a 24-year-old resident of Port Orchard, Washington, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is set for July 18, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
Testimony of law enforcement officers would have been provided detailing a search of the motel room BLODGETT was sharing with another individual. During the search of the room, officers discovered a backpack that contained a .45 caliber pistol, approximately an ounce of marijuana, packaging supplies, and a scale.
BLODGETT was arrested and taken to jail. Later, BLODGETT called a friend and described to her that his backpack with his marijuana and handgun had been taken by law enforcement. The phone call was recorded and would have been introduced into evidence.
BLODGETT faces possible penalties of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. In addition, BLODGETT faces an additional mandatory five year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for the use or possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Van de Wetering prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
