A federal judge in Great Falls has sentenced Christopher Paris Stockdale, a 34-year-old man from Helena, to 11 years and eight months in prison. The sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release for his involvement in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl within the community, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.

Stockdale pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case.

"Stockdale, armed with a gun, worked with others to bring these poisons into Helena. His conduct had the potential to seriously injure or kill thousands of users, but with today’s sentence, he is no longer a risk to our community for a long time. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers like Stockdale to ensure they end up in federal prison with him," stated U.S. Attorney Laslovich.

Court documents revealed that Stockdale possessed multiple firearms and was responsible for importing thousands of fentanyl pills and pounds of meth into Montana while on state parole for previous drug offenses. In spring 2023, drug task force officers in Helena gathered information indicating that Stockdale was collaborating with others to supply narcotics locally. This led to his detention on parole violations. A search of his truck uncovered several hundred fentanyl pills, over 100 grams of methamphetamine, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigations conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that unites law enforcement agencies at various levels with communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence while enhancing neighborhood safety. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, which reinforces PSN's core principles: fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.