Montana man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, firearms crimes

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Montana man who admitted to drug trafficking and firearms crimes at a local hotel was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, District of Montana, announced this sentence. This case was investigated by the following agencies:  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Great Falls Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Gregory George Denny, 47, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Law enforcement officers responded Jan. 21, 2018, to a report of potential drug activity in two rooms at a Great Falls hotel and found Denny in one of the rooms. An officer felt a suspected meth pipe in a jacket he was handing to Denny. After getting a search warrant, officers found baggies of meth in the coat, a plastic vial with marijuana and a glass pipe with white residue.

Upon further investigation, officers found additional bags of meth, two cellphones, $900 in cash, a scale, a knife and a hand grenade. Officers also found four firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition on the bed. A search of Denny's phones determined there were extensive communications involving drug distribution, including messages where Denny was negotiating multi-pound meth deals. Other messages indicated Denny negotiated selling meth for firearms and vice versa.

Witnesses told law enforcement that Denny had been dealing meth since at least 2017 and typically possessed firearms.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley prosecuted this case.