The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on October 26, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JOSEPH MAXWELL, a 52-year-old resident of Red Lodge, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine. Sentencing has been set for February 2, 2011. He is currently released on special conditions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora stated that the government would have proved at trial the following:

From 2006 until February 2009, MAXWELL was involved in a conspiracy with other individuals to possess and distribute cocaine in the Red Lodge area.

MAXWELL 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 a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

 

 

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