A Belgrade man, Justin Olen Brown, 40, has been sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for intending to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentencing.
Brown pleaded guilty in February 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen.
According to court documents, on February 23, 2024, law enforcement stopped Brown near Ramsey, Montana. Officers discovered three lock boxes and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. A search warrant led to the seizure of 173 grams of fentanyl.
Brown admitted purchasing the fentanyl pills in Spokane, Washington, with plans to sell them in Montana. He also confessed to making similar trips for obtaining fentanyl pills previously.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case which was investigated by the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, strengthening PSN with core principles including fostering community trust and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
