Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula on September 15, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, MATTHEW GREGORIAN, a 31-year-old resident of Modesto, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Sentencing is set for December 17, 2009. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 13, 2006, GREGORIAN and W.S. flew from Sacramento, California to Kalispell. The purpose of the trip was for GREGORIAN to supervise a cocaine sale. As GREGORIAN and W.S. were flying, T.P. was traveling by car to Kalispell with 7.5 pounds of cocaine at GREGORIAN'S request. The understanding was that once in Kalispell, the cocaine would be delivered and sold to M.D.

Upon arriving, all four individuals met up at a motel in the area and then went to M.D.'s residence. At the residence, GREGORIAN retrieved the cocaine from the door panels of the car and M.D. took the cocaine. GREGORIAN and W.S. boarded a return flight to California the next day.

GREGORIAN 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 at least 4 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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