An Idaho man was sentenced on July 15 to 10 years in prison and eight years of supervised release after admitting to traveling to Montana to sell methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Duke Lee Flemings, 27, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case.
According to court documents, Flemings was stopped by law enforcement near Ronan on June 24, 2025, for speeding. At the time of the stop, Flemings had several outstanding warrants and was arrested. He informed officers that drugs would be found in his vehicle. Officers discovered roughly an ounce of methamphetamine and found messages on a cell phone showing that Flemings was arranging meth deals in Montana.
Flemings had previously been convicted of distribution of methamphetamine in federal court in Idaho in 2021.
U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case, while Homeland Security Investigation and the Flathead Tribal Police conducted the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and is appointed by the Attorney General; its offices are located in Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula and focus on enforcing federal laws ethically while protecting citizens’ safety and quality of life across issues such as violent crime and drug offenses, according to the official website.