The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 18, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ARTHUR FRANKIE GOMEZ, a 35-year-old resident of Washington, appeared for sentencing. GOMEZ was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 78 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 5 years

GOMEZ was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as part of a tribal drug operation, "Junkyard Dog."

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Beginning in the spring of 2009, GOMEZ and Connie Ann Solis, residents of Washington, delivered methamphetamine to George Morris in Billings. GOMEZ stated he was "brought in" to the methamphetamine distribution organization by two people who live in Washington state. GOMEZ met these two people while in jail last year.

GOMEZ stated he was given directions to the location in Billings by these two people, and was told how "it would go." GOMEZ was also given a telephone number of who to contact in Montana. GOMEZ stated it was the same person in Montana each time. GOMEZ knew "the old man" that he and Solis met with in Billings as "Bill." GOMEZ stated "Bill" was the man known as George Morris.

GOMEZ said during most trips to Montana, he and Solis met "Bill" at a gas station in Billings. On the trip prior to his arrest, GOMEZ said they followed "Bill" to a new location. GOMEZ stated he did not know why they were directed to meet at the new location on the last two trips.

Solis stated she estimated that they made six trips to Billings. Solis also stated that she did not know the amount of methamphetamine that she and GOMEZ were delivering, but she knew that they were delivering "drugs" to Morris.

Law enforcement in Billings conducted surveillance during the summer and fall of 2009, and observed Solis and GOMEZ in Billings delivering methamphetamine to Morris on four occasions. During the last trip that they made, on December 20, 2009, they were arrested at a house outside of Billings with Morris. Approximately two pounds of methamphetamine were recovered from their car, and approximately $27,000 in cash was seized from Morris's car at the same time.

Solis admitted that she and GOMEZ were paid $2,000 per trip to deliver methamphetamine to Morris.

Morris and Solis pled guilty to federal charges and have been sentenced.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that GOMEZ will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, GOMEZ 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

 

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