Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

GREAT FALLS – Robert David Linn, Jr., a 52-year-old resident of Great Falls, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison followed by 5 years supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in July.  U.S. District Judge Brian Morris handed down the sentence.

 

In late 2015, the Russell Country Drug Task Force began investigating the defendant, Robert David Linn, Jr., for trafficking methamphetamine in Great Falls, Montana.  Through further investigation, law enforcement learned that the defendant typically sold a pound of methamphetamine for $15,000, or an ounce of methamphetamine for $1,250.  On occasion, the defendant sold smaller quantities of heroin.  Law enforcement also acquired information that the defendant frequently traded methamphetamine for stolen property. 

 

Throughout 2016 and 2017, law enforcement seized approximately five pounds of actual methamphetamine from various individuals in Great Falls who had all received their methamphetamine directly from the defendant.  On April 8, 2017, law enforcement arrested the defendant after receiving information that he had recently received approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine through delivery by a shipping company. 

 

Following the defendant’s arrest, law enforcement executed numerous search warrants.  First, law enforcement went to a home in Great Falls where agents had information that the defendant stored his methamphetamine supply.  There, agents seized 4359.2 grams, or approximately ten pounds, of actual methamphetamine from a concealed location in the home.  Agents also seized 13 firearms located in extremely close proximity to the methamphetamine.  These firearms included two semi-automatic rifles, four revolvers, and seven semi-automatic pistols.  Upon further examination, two of the firearms possessed obliterated serial numbers, and agents discovered three of the firearms were stolen.  Law enforcement also seized 202.2 grams of actual methamphetamine from the defendant’s truck.  Lastly, in addition to the methamphetamine seizures, agents recovered over $250,000 in cash proceeds from the defendant and his associates. 

 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley and investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime.  Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.