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, RONALD JASON SCHNEIDER, age 39, appeared for sentencing. SCHNEIDER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 240 months

Special Assessment: $200

Restitution: $12,200

Supervised Release: 5 years

SCHNEIDER 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 group of people, including SCHNEIDER, engaged in trafficking methamphetamine from Spokane, Washington, to Great Falls for distribution.

In the summer of 2010, the officers learned that the group also was engaged in transporting motor vehicles stolen from Great Falls to Spokane as part of the drug trafficking operation. Some of the motor vehicles were sold to a "chop shop" in Spokane and the proceeds used to purchase methamphetamine.

Between April 2010 and January 2011, officers interviewed various people who stated that SCHNEIDER was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in Great Falls.

Between June 20, 2010 and September 3, 2010, the following motor vehicles were stolen from Great Falls: (1) a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe pickup truck, which was stolen on or about June 20, 2010; (2) a 1995 Ford F150 pickup truck, which was stolen on or about July 15, 2010; (3) a 2006 Honda motorcycle, which was stolen on or about July 27, 2010; (4) a 2000 Honda CR250 motorcycle; (5) a 2008 Yamaha YZ motorcycle, a 2003 Kawasaki ZX6R motorcycle, and a 1992 Yamaha YZ250 motorcycle, all stolen on or about August 30, 2010; and (6) a 2009 Harley Davidson Rocker motorcycle, stolen on or about September 3, 2010.

On September 10, 2010, SCHNEIDER was arrested in Spokane, Washington. Great Falls Police detectives went to Spokane and interviewed SCHNEIDER on September 10 and 11, 2010. During the course of the interview, SCHNEIDER confessed to his involvement in drug trafficking and transporting stolen motor vehicles from Montana to Spokane.

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

SCHNEIDER admitted that he and others were involved in transporting stolen motor vehicles from Montana to Spokane. SCHNEIDER stated that some of the motor vehicles were traded to his suppliers for methamphetamine. SCHNEIDER admitted that, on one occasion, he gave his suppliers a Ford F150 pickup truck and motorcycle, but the suppliers never provided him with any drugs.

SCHNEIDER also admitted that four motorcycles stolen on August 30, 2010, were transported from Montana to Spokane by "John Doe". He stated that two of the motorcycles "did not come back" from Spokane.

On September 14, 2010, Great Falls Police detectives interviewed an individual in this case. The individual stated that sometime around June 20, 2010, the he/she accompanied SCHNEIDER and others on a trip to Spokane to obtain methamphetamine. The individual stated the group drove the stolen Chevy Tahoe truck from Montana to Spokane and back to Montana during the course of the trip.

On September 14, 2010, detectives interviewed "John Doe" who stated that "John Doe", SCHNEIDER, and another person transported the motorcycles stolen on August 30, 2010, to Spokane. "John Doe" stated some of the motorcycles were traded to a drug dealer for methamphetamine.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SCHNEIDER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SCHNEIDER 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.

 

 

Return to Top