A Havre man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for his role in distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in Montana. Lance Jon Stimson, 33, admitted guilt in October 2024 to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen handed down the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release following the prison term.
Court documents revealed that the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force was investigating another individual for distributing fentanyl in Missoula. This investigation indicated that Stimson received meth and fentanyl from this person for further distribution. In April 2024, law enforcement apprehended Stimson after he absconded from supervision, finding 310 fentanyl pills and 28 grams of heroin in his vehicle. Stimson confessed to collaborating with the individual to distribute over 7,000 fentanyl pills and 17 ounces of meth between October 2023 and April 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office managed the prosecution of this case, with assistance from the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation among various levels of law enforcement and communities. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, reinforcing PSN's core principles: building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes. More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.
