The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on July 22, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, ANDREW BURRINGTON, a 23-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared for sentencing. BURRINGTON was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 37 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 4 years

BURRINGTON was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

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:

Starting in approximately September 2006, BURRINGTON began obtaining five pound quantities of marijuana from a source of supply (SOS#1) every week until approximately February of 2008. BURRINGTON estimated that he purchased between 100 and 150 pounds from SOS#1.

BURRINGTON later began purchasing marijuana from a higher level source of supply (SOS#2). BURRINGTON estimated that he purchased 250-400 pounds of marijuana from (SOS#2).

P.C. stated that he met BURRINGTON on July 29, 2008. A week or two later P.C. went to BURRINGTON's residence and observed BURRINGTON with 14 pounds of marijuana. BURRINGTON fronted one pound of marijuana to P.C. for $2,700. P.C. estimated over the next two months that he obtained 30 pounds of marijuana from BURRINGTON. P.C. stated that between August 2008 and September 2009, he estimated that he had obtained between 400-600 pounds of marijuana from BURRINGTON. P.C. stated the most he obtained at one time was 10 pounds. P.C. stated on one occasion he observed BURRINGTON with 50 pounds of marijuana at BURRINGTON's residence. P.C. also stated he counted $75,000 in cash with BURRINGTON in August 2009.

On September 3, 2009, P.C. was robbed by Jeremiah Lettiere of approximately five pounds of marijuana and $12,000. P.C. stated that the five pounds of marijuana had come from BURRINGTON. P.C. intended to distribute the five pounds to Lettiere, collect the cash, and then purchase another five pounds of marijuana from BURRINGTON to distribute to Lettiere.

On September 3, 2009, the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a search warrant at BURRINGTON's residence in Missoula. Agents seized $46,048 in cash and approximately 10 pounds of marijuana.

Lettiere pled guilty to federal charges and has been sentenced.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BURRINGTON will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BURRINGTON does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

 

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