Montana man sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for distributing drugs, possessing firearms

MISSOULA, Mont. — A Montana man, who distributed methamphetamine and other drugs and possessed multiple firearms, was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in federal prison and to five years of supervised release.

This guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, District of Montana. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

Nickolas William Povsha, 24, pleaded guilty earlier to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Prosecutors said in court records that Povsha twice sold a confidential informant MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, in April and May 2018. In July 2018, pursuant to a federal search warrant, two packages belonging to Povsha were intercepted and searched. One package contained more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine; the other contained marijuana seeds. A third package was searched at a later date and was found to contain Xanax.

Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at Povsha’s residence in August 2018, and found multiple firearms, ammunition, drugs, a scale and other items.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided at sentencing and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted this case.