FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 30, 2008
LISA JANE RICE 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 Great Falls, on May 29, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, LISA JANE RICE, a 35-year-old resident of Fairview, appeared for sentencing. RICE was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 24 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
RICE was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On August 16, 2007, a confidential informant (CI) and RICE made arrangements for RICE to purchase methamphetamine. Through several phone conversations, RICE and the CI agreed that RICE would buy $2,000 worth of methamphetamine. RICE told the CI that her husband was gathering money from other individuals named "Dog" and "Boogie". Rice and the CI agreed to meet at a motel in Culbertson to complete the transaction.
RICE arrived at the motel shortly before 1:00 a.m. on August 17, 2007. The transaction was conducted inside one of the motel rooms. RICE gave $2,000 to the CI in exchange for approximately 1 ounce of a substance containing methamphetamine. The substance was contained in four plastic straws which were heat sealed shut.
When RICE departed the motel room, she was detained by law enforcement. The straws of methamphetamine were found on her person. When questioned, RICE stated that she had been given money by an unnamed individual in order to purchase the methamphetamine. RICE further stated that she intended to deliver half of the methamphetamine to this unnamed person and that she would keep the remainder of the methamphetamine to personally use, along with a girlfriend.
The substance inside the straws was tested by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine. The laboratory determined that the substance contained 7.6 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that RICE will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, RICE 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 Richard A. Hosley prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Big Muddy Drug Task Force, and the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office.
