The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on December 7, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, MICHAEL JAMES BEAULAURIER, a 52-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. BEAULAURIER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 68 months

Special Assessment: $100

Forfeiture: residence at 2225 Third Avenue North, Great Falls

Supervised Release: 5 years

BEAULAURIER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

In approximately April 2010, officers of the Great Falls Police Department began to investigate a number of people, including BEAULAURIER, who were engaged in trafficking methamphetamine from Spokane, Washington, to Great Falls for distribution.

On September 10 and 11, 2010, Great Falls Police detectives interviewed an individual in this matter.

The individual stated that, beginning in approximately February 2010, the individual and various co-conspirators made weekly trips from Great Falls to Spokane. The individual stated he obtained four to eight ounces of methamphetamine during each trip to Spokane, then transported the drugs to Great Falls, where he distributed the drugs to various people.

The individual also stated BEAULAURIER was his partner in drug dealing. The individual said that he used BEAULAURIER's residence in Great Falls as a distribution point for methamphetamine he brought from Spokane. The individual stated that, on four to seven occasions, BEAULAURIER wired money to him to purchase methamphetamine in Spokane. He stated that, since February 2010, BEAULAURIER had distributed a minimum of five pounds of methamphetamine.

On September 23, 2010, Great Falls Police detectives interviewed BEAULAURIER. BEAULAURIER admitted that the individual identified above was his source of supply for methamphetamine. BEAULAURIER admitted he knew the individual made trips to Spokane to obtain methamphetamine on multiple occasions, with each trip involving an average of two ounces of methamphetamine since February 2010. BEAULAURIER admitted he provided money to the individual on several occasions in April and May 2010 for the individual to purchase methamphetamine for BEAULAURIER. All told, BEAULAURIER admitted that he purchased $3,400 worth of methamphetamine from the individual since February 2010.

BEAULAURIER also admitted that on at least five occasions in June and July 2010, the individual brought methamphetamine to BEAULAURIER's home in Great Falls. Collectively, BEAULAURIER said the individual brought ten ounces of methamphetamine to BEAULAURIER's home during that time period. BEAULAURIER admitted he allowed the individual to use BEAULAURIER's home as a distribution point for methamphetamine.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BEAULAURIER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BEAULAURIER 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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Great Falls Police Department.

 

 

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