Roy Franklin Todd Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 21, 2010, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, ROY FRANKLIN TODD, a 47-year-old resident of Lame Deer, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing has been set for December 21, 2010. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Since 2005, George Morris has headed a drug organization that distributes methamphetamine in the Billings, Montana area, as well as the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. The organization distributed methamphetamine. The primary target of the investigation was the defendant, George Victor Morris. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that Morris’ drug trafficking operation was based out of his home in Billings, Montana, as well as at his junkyard, which is located on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Roy TODD has been distributing meth for Morris since 2006. Morris told law enforcement he distributed one ounce to one quarter pound quantities of methamphetamine to TODD approximately two to five times a month during the course of the conspiracy. On one occasion, TODD called Morris from a co-conspirator’s residence. Morris met with TODD at the residence and sold TODD one half ounce of methamphetamine. TODD was later stopped by law enforcement. Law enforcement found the half ounce of methamphetamine in TODD’S possession.

On April 22, 2009, TODD was interviewed by law enforcement. TODD told law enforcement that he had been involved with methamphetamine for approximately five to six years. TODD initially obtained one-quarter, and one-half ounce quantities of methamphetamine from his supplier, Dennis Shoulderblade (deceased), who was supplied by Morris.

In the summer of 2007, TODD began obtaining methamphetamine directly from Morris. Todd initially obtained two to three grams of methamphetamine from Morris every couple of days. TODD estimated he purchased four gram quantities of methamphetamine from Morris for $550 each, on 30 to 40 occasions. TODD purchased one-half ounce quantities of methamphetamine from Morris approximately seven to eight times, and purchased one-quarter ounce quantities of methamphetamine approximately seven to eight times.

At the conclusion of the interview, TODD provided law enforcement with 13 bundles containing methamphetamine, which was the amount of methamphetamine remaining from one-quarter ounce that he had purchased from George Morris three days before the interview. TODD used a small portion of the methamphetamine for personal use, kept a portion for later use, and sold the remainder to four individuals on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. TODD normally sold methamphetamine in one-half, and one gram quantities.

Morris has entered a plea of guilty to federal charges and is awaiting sentencing.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, City-County Special Investigation Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.