GREAT FALLS-A Great Falls man who admitted possessing methamphetamine for redistribution in Butte was sentenced today to 68 months in prison and to four of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Michael Joseph Jacobson, 57, pleaded guilty earlier to possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The Russell Country Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations became aware of Jacobson during a 2015 investigation into a meth ring in Great Falls. In April 2017, investigators learned that the ring’s out-of-state supplier had shipped a large amount of meth to Great Falls and that Jacobson was going to meet a co-conspirator to get meth. Agents saw Jacobson meet with the co-conspirator and stopped his vehicle after the meeting. During a search of Jacobson’s vehicle, agents found numerous cell phones and $8,000 in two wallets seized from Jacobson. Agents also told Jacobson to remove meth they had seen him insert into his person. Meth seized from Jacobson totaled about 17.5 grams, which is about 140 doses. The investigation also determined that Jacobson typically picked up meth in Great Falls for redistribution in Butte.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force and HSI.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
