The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Helena on June 8, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, RICHARD ARNOLD STINE, age 58, and CONNIE HOLLAND STINE, age 58, residents of Helena, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing has been set for September 23, 2010. They are currently detained.

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:

RICHARD and CONNIE STINE had been suspected of dealing methamphetamine for approximately ten years in the Helena area. In January of 2010, law enforcement officers did a controlled buy in which an undercover individual bought methamphetamine from the STINES.

After the purchase, a search warrant was executed on their residence in Helena during which more than eight ounces of methamphetamine were seized. When questioned, they both admitted to selling methamphetamine in the Helena area for the past ten years.

They each face possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $4,000,000 fine and at least 5 years supervised release. .

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Missouri River Drug Task Force.

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

 

 

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