Cody Michael Beard Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on January 5, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, CODY MICHAEL BEARD, a 21-year-old resident of Hardin, appeared for sentencing. BEARD was sentenced to a term of:

■Prison: 48 months

■Special Assessment: $100
■Supervised Release: five years

BEARD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

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

BEARD became known to FBI/BIA investigators during a joint investigation into the distribution of illegal drugs on the Crow Indian Reservation (CIR). Throughout the last year, agents have interviewed approximately 40 people and all have information about BEARD and his use, and distribution of methamphetamine.

BEARD was interviewed three times, once in May 2010, and twice in March and April 2011. He admitted to selling methamphetamine in Hardin and on the Crow Indian Reservation.

Specifically, BEARD admitted that he began selling methamphetamine in October/November of 2009. He estimated that he sold an eight ball, or 1/8 of an ounce of methamphetamine per day for approximately six months, until approximately March 2010. He estimated that he sold $3,000 worth of methamphetamine per week during that six-month time period, and made a profit of $500 per week. He sold methamphetamine seven days a week.

During the spring of 2010, he accompanied another local drug dealer to Billings to purchase methamphetamine on four separate occasions. On two of the four occasions, 1/4 ounce of methamphetamine was purchased. Smaller amounts were purchased on the other trips. BEARD personally received small amounts on each trip.

BEARD then admitted that he sold methamphetamine during July, August, and September of 2010. He made a profit of $700 during the month of July 2010, and he estimated that he made between $2,500 to $3,000 profit selling methamphetamine during the months of August and September 2010.

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

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.