FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
JOSEPH PONCE 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 April 23, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JOSEPH PONCE, a 71-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. PONCE was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 135 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Forfeiture: $8,023
- Supervised Release: 5 years
PONCE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
At the sentencing 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.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that PONCE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, PONCE 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 Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
