Victor James Webster, Jr. Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney»s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on July 18, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, VICTOR JAMES WEBSTER, JR., a 25-year-old resident of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. WEBSTER was sentenced to a term of:

•Prison: 320 months

•Special Assessment: $100

•Supervised Release: 5 years

WEBSTER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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

On August 19 and October 6, 2010, in Great Falls, WEBSTER sold methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (“CICI saw another two ounces of methamphetamine as well as a .40 caliber handgun. WEBSTER and the CI discussed the handgun as well as other firearms WEBSTER owned during the sale. Also on October 6, 2010, WEBSTER sold methamphetamine to an unwitting person who then sold the methamphetamine to law enforcement.

Later in the day of October 6, 2010, law enforcement attempted to detain WEBSTER, however he fled to another part of Great Falls.

Concerned citizens then called 911 and reported a man running through yards and jumping fences. The citizens watched WEBSTER until he was caught by law enforcement. The citizens also saw that WEBSTER dropped a black bag while he was running. The citizens found the black bag and showed it to law enforcement.

Law enforcement found approximately four ounces of a methamphetamine mixture, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, and approximately $4,400 in cash inside the black bag. Some of the cash was from the methamphetamine purchases earlier that day as law enforcement had photocopied the currency before the drug purchases.

A chemist analyzed the drug evidence and found that the items contained methamphetamine and that the total of all drug exhibits was approximately 150 grams of actual methamphetamine.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the “truth in sentencing” guidelines mandate that WEBSTER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, WEBSTER does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for “good behavior.” However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Great Falls High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Great Falls Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, Montana Probation and Parole, the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory.