Billings man gets almost 16 years for dealing meth

[Skabewis]

Billings, Montana (AP)

A 60-year-old man accused of distributing about 32 pounds of methamphetamine in Billings and on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Jack Shanstrom sentenced George V. Morris of Billings last week to 15 years and eight months, saying the public needs protection from the drug dealer. The Billings Gazette reports that Morris, who pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute meth, also must forfeit $27,000 in cash and a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup truck.

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[short apache girl]

Billings, Montana (AP)

A 60-year-old man accused of distributing about 32 pounds of methamphetamine in Billings and on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Jack Shanstrom sentenced George V. Morris of Billings last week to 15 years and eight months, saying the public needs protection from the drug dealer. The Billings Gazette reports that Morris, who pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to distribute meth, also must forfeit $27,000 in cash and a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup truck.

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Wow i am so glad they found this man and locked him up.

[RDNKJ]

Good! Not sure 16 years is long enough. I'm pretty tolerant of a lotta things, but meth & crack aren't on my tolerance list. If anyone's seen the "Faces of Meth" campaign - it's true, I've watched it happen.

[amarie49]

He is probably responsible for creating who knows how many meth addicts on that reservation and surrounding area. I'm sure there's children now suffering from neglect because of him as well. Lock him up and throw away the key!

[AmigoKumeyaay]

I know nothing about this case except what is printed here. Hopefully, there are more arrests pending as this old man was part of a network. Under conspiracy laws, any other criminals linked to that 32 pounds of meth can be convicted. This man will likely die in prison, seems odd he did not roll on the others, maybe he will now?

According to a conference I attended recently, the most addictive demographic in the U.S. is Native American 18 to 25 years of age. The drug dealers certainly know this, and bring free samples to get people hooked, then they have a steady demand to sell to.

Once they get locals hooked on meth, the addicts recruit more addicts, it spreads like a virus.

Since illegal drugs is a "cash only" business, the flow of cash back to the meth source must be attacked by law enforcement. Cash smuggling is not mentioned much, but that is the life blood of a drug cartel/street gang. Bulk cash smugglers make 5 to 10% of the amount they deliver back to Mexico.

One motivator for tribal police or other departments is that they get to "share" part of the cash seizure (for official use) when they catch it. "Follow the money".

[wyo_rose]

Montana is getting tough on drug dealers. This other dude got LIFE for dealing:

38-year-old Billings meth dealer gets life in prison