GREAT FALLS - Iran Michael Kesselman, a 72-year-old former Las Vegas resident, was sentenced today to 104 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on Sept. 10, 2013. U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris handed down the sentence.
Kesselman trafficked methamphetamine to Butte, Montana, and other locations, from February 2008 until July 2012. Money was transferred to Kesselman, then he shipped methamphetamine to Montana using Federal Express. Two Butte methamphetamine dealers traveled to Las Vegas to obtain methamphetamine from Kesselman. In Spring 2012, Kesselman rented a motel room in Butte where two to three and perhaps as much as 20 ounces of methamphetamine were sold. In July 2012, Kesselman and his driver traveled from Las Vegas to Butte with 111.35 grams of actual methamphetamine hidden in a Coco Crispy cereal box. The defendant was held responsible for possessing with the intent to distribute 117.55 grams of actual methamphetamine. That converts to 936 individual doses of the drug.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart and investigated by the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
