Great Falls, Montana – A Washington man has been found guilty by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in communities in Hill County and on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. The defendant, Antonio Ledesma Rodriguez, also known as Uncle, was convicted on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and distribution of fentanyl after a three-day trial. Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and at least three years of supervised release on each count.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the trial. The court is scheduled to determine Rodriguez’s sentence on June 20, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Rodriguez has been detained pending further proceedings.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Rodriguez was allegedly involved in drug trafficking from January 2021 to December 2021 in Hill County communities including Havre, Laredo, and Box Elder, as well as on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. In May 2021, law enforcement seized fentanyl pills from an individual at Rodriguez’s residence. The individual admitted to distributing controlled substances and identified Rodriguez as one of his suppliers, along with a group of men from Yakima, Washington. Law enforcement further discovered that the seized pills had been provided by Rodriguez, and the individual had been selling fentanyl and methamphetamine on his behalf. In a controlled purchase, Rodriguez sold 350 fentanyl pills to law enforcement for $8,000.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich commended the law enforcement agencies involved in investigating and prosecuting the case, including the FBI, Tri Agency Task Force, and Rocky Boy’s Police Department. Laslovich emphasized the commitment to holding individuals accountable for trafficking drugs and poisoning communities, stating that the collaborative efforts will continue to shut down drug traffickers.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement at all levels and the communities they serve. Launched by the Department on May 26, 2021, the PSN program focuses on building trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The conviction of Antonio Ledesma Rodriguez serves as a testament to the commitment of law enforcement in combating drug trafficking and protecting communities from the harmful effects of drugs. The sentencing hearing in June will determine the consequences he will face for his crimes.