Sidney Meth Dealer Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Prison

BILLINGS - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Martin Anderson was sentenced to 220 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided over the hearing.  

Anderson previously entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  In or before July 2016 Anderson entered into an agreement with other conspirators to import substantial amounts of methamphetamine into the Sidney area of Montana for redistribution.  Law enforcement would learn that Anderson, who has an extensive criminal history, purchased from California and arranged for its transportation and re-distribution in Sidney and elsewhere.  Law enforcement would conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Anderson.  A search warrant executed on Anderson’s residence in March 2017 resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine and numerous items associated with narcotics distribution. At sentencing, Judge Watters found that at least 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine was attributable to Anderson.

In a sentencing memorandum filed in federal court, federal prosecutors noted Andersons’s “life of crime” and his “sheer breadth” of this conduct in importing such a large quantity of methamphetamine to the Bakken.  In that memorandum, the United States described how Anderson was responsible for approximately half a pound of methamphetamine per week.  Anderson represented a significant player in the methamphetamine distribution network in Sidney and beyond.

Judge Watters sentenced Anderson to over 18 years in federal prison, with five years of supervised release to follow.  Because there is no parole in the federal system, Anderson will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court.  In the federal system, Anderson does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior.  However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.     

Judge Watters previously sentenced other defendants directly affiliated with Anderson.  His co-defendant, Autumn Guerrero was sentenced to 84 months.  Co-conspirators Timothy Swope and Tiffany Boland were sentenced to 156 months and 60 months, respectively, by Judge Watters.

The Anderson case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Montana Department of Criminal Investigation, and other federal, state, and local agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Zeno Baucus and Bryan Dake prosecuted Anderson.