FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 05, 2008
BOYD ROBIN BURNETT and MARLIN RAY HOWES PLEAD 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 May 5, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, BOYD ROBIN BURNETT, a 65-year-old resident of Belgrade, and MARLIN RAY HOWES, a 49-year-old resident of Bozeman, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams of actual methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for September 25, 2008. HOWES is currently detained. BURNETT was released on special conditions.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On February 14, 2007, an undercover officer purchased two 1/4-ounce quantities of methamphetamine from HOWES for $650 each. The total weight of the two purchases was 11.1 grams of actual methamphetamine. During the course of the purchases, HOWES commented about his source of supply and law enforcement officers monitoring the purchases followed HOWES to and from BURNETT'S residence, where it appeared HOWES was picking up the meth that he sold to the undercover officer.
On February 15, 2007, law enforcement officers searched BURNETT'S residence. They seized cash, drug paraphernalia, and 635.4 grams of actual methamphetamine. BURNETT was subsequently interviewed and admitted to possessing the methamphetamine for sale.
BURNETT faces possible penalties of a mandatory 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.
HOWES faces possible penalties of a mandatory 20 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
# # # #
A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
