U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
An East Helena resident, Thomas Anthony Conley, aged 37, has been sentenced to over 11 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. This sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release. The sentencing took place on October 29 under the supervision of Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris.
Conley had pleaded guilty in June to charges related to possession with intent to distribute both methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich emphasized the seriousness of the case: “Thousands of fentanyl pills, pounds and pounds of meth, and multiple guns. A majority of the cases we prosecute include those elements, and I’m pleased to say virtually all of our cases result in federal prison sentences. This case is no different, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute dangerous drug traffickers with the goal that they have the same fate as Conley.”
Court documents revealed that Conley was responsible for bringing more than 20,000 fentanyl pills and dozens of pounds of meth into Montana while possessing multiple firearms. Investigations conducted in March and April 2023 uncovered his role in supplying these drugs within the Helena area.
The investigation involved search warrants executed at Conley's residence and vehicles where law enforcement discovered several firearms along with over 17,000 fentanyl pills in one vehicle. Conley admitted collaborating with others to traffic large quantities of these substances into Montana.
The prosecution was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigations carried out by various agencies including the Missouri River Drug Task Force, Southwest Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case forms part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities across different levels. The initiative focuses on fostering trust within communities while setting strategic enforcement priorities.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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