California meth trafficker sentenced to prison

MISSOULA—A California man who admitted that two pounds of meth found during a traffic stop were his was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Tony Gregory Amador Ortiz, 25, of Rancho Cordova, CA, pleaded guilty in October to possession with intent to distribute meth.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The prosecution said in court records that an undercover surveillance operation by Missoula drug task force officers on July 15, 2019 led to a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Ortiz was a passenger. In a search of the vehicle, officers found two pounds of meth. Ortiz admitted the meth belonged to him. Two pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 7,248 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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