FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
ROGER PHILLIPS 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 Billings on May 7, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ROGER PHILLIPS, a resident of Bozeman, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing is set for August 14, 2008. He is currently detained.
At the change of plea proceeding, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
During the period of the conspiracy, PHILLIPS was involved in receiving methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, from Crystal Busby, Buster Quesenberry and others for resale.
On April 23, 2005, at Belgrade, Derek Ard, PHILLIPS and other coconspirators were stopped by law enforcement. They held a ledger showing distribution of methamphetamine to Peggy Glock. Seized at that time was 67.30 grams of 59% methamphetamine or 39.7 grams of pure or actual methamphetamine.
During the period of the conspiracy, PHILLIPS possessed with intent to distribute or distributed in excess of 50 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine or 5 grams of actual methamphetamine.
Ard, Glock, Busby and Quesenberry pled guilty to federal charges. Busby and Quesenberry have been sentenced and Ard and Glock are awaiting sentencing.
PHILLIPS faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and 4 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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