Manhattan man sentenced to 7 years on methamphetamine charges
Photo illustration by Getty Images.
A Manhattan, Montana, man who pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing methamphetamine was sentenced to 7 years in prison and five years supervised release, according to the Montana U.S. Attorney's office.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen presided over the case.
Kevin Andrew Bacon, 51, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to a Wednesday U.S Attorney's office press release, law enforcement officers began investigating a drug trafficking ring operating around Butte in June 2022. According to court documents, agents allegedly discovered a conspiracy operating in part by sending drugs through the U.S. Postal Service from California to Montana. Several members of the drug trafficking ring operated out of a residence in Whitehall, according to court filings.
The investigation led to the arrest of several conspirators in early January 2023, and the seizure of approximately 13 pounds of meth. On Feb 23, 2023, law enforcement located a package sent from California to 'Kevin Bacon' in Manhattan. Law enforcement searched the package and located 873.5 grams of actual methamphetamine inside.
Bacon was arrested on Feb 28, 2023, when he arrived at the Manhattan post office to retrieve the package. He told investigators he had a friend in Whitehall who sold drugs and had asked Bacon to receive a package, which Bacon knew contained meth, to his P.O Box.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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