The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on March 5, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy, MARCO ANTONIO MORALES-ROA, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 4 years supervised release in connection with his December 2013 guilty plea.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Whittaker, the Government states that in August 2013, law enforcement interviewed a confidential informant ("CI #1") in which he/she stated that about in about March 2013 he/she called a source of supply (SS #1) asking for assistance in obtaining some methamphetamine. The source of supply provided CI #1 with a phone number and told him to contact a Hispanic male by the name of "Antonio" (later identified as the defendant). CI #1 contacted Morales and made arrangement to meet Morales at his residence in Fairview, Montana. The next day CI #1 drove to Fairview, met with Morales and received 7 grams of meth from Morales on a front. Three days later CI #1 met with Morales at his residence and provided him with $700.00 for the meth he had received.
Several days later CI #1 again met with Morales and received $6,000.00 from him which CI #1 took to Butte, Montana to meet with a second source of supply from Washington (SS #2). This individual provided CI #1 with 1/2 pound of methamphetamine in exchange for the $6,000.00. CI #1 drove back to Sidney, Montana and provided Morales with 1/4 pound of the meth and provided the rest to others and himself for distribution.
Several days later CI #1 again met with Morales and received $4,500.00 which CI #1 combined with $500.00 which he/she already had. CI #1 then drove to Butte to again meet with the source of supply from Washington (SS #2). SS #2 provided CI #1 with 1/2 pound of meth in exchange for the cash. CI #1 drove back to Sidney and provided Morales with 1/4 pound of the meth and provided 28 grams to two other individuals. CI #1 then kept the remaining amount of meth for him/herself.
Furthermore, near the end of August 2013, law enforcement also conducted an interview with CI #2. CI #2 was a good friend of Morales and said he introduced Morales to SS #1 for the purpose of obtaining meth. When SS #1 was arrested in March 2013, Morales became the main distributor for meth in the Sidney area as a replacement for SS #1. CI #2 further stated that Morales owed an approximately $10,000.00 drug debt. CI #2 stated that he/she had observed Morales with approximately 1 ounce of meth at a time.
On Sept. 20, 2013, Morales was interviewed by law enforcement wherein he stated that he had possessed methamphetamine and had distributed it to others.
The total amount of methamphetamine possessed by Morales was approximately 233 grams.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
