GREAT FALLS - A Washington man suspected of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl on the Rock Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to a drug crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Antonio Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Infante faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Nov. 21. Infante was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in the fall of 2022, the FBI received reports that Infante was bringing controlled substances to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. During a traffic stop in December 2022 by the Montana Highway Patrol, officers recovered a total of 91 fentanyl pills, two pistols, cocaine and methamphetamine from the vehicle in which Infante was a passenger. Infante later said the drugs were his and intended only for personal use. In a second traffic stop of Infante on the reservation 10 days later, officers located a half pound of meth, approximately 100 fentanyl pills, cocaine and a loaded 9mm magazine. Officers found a 9mm pistol in the police officer’s vehicle where Infante had been seated for transportation following the traffic stop. Additionally, in January, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 100 fentanyl pills from Infante. In a third traffic stop of Infante on the reservation, officers located meth and 76 fentanyl pills. In February, the FBI executed a search warrant on a residence where Infante had been staying and recovered a large quantity meth that was determined to be 9.8 pounds of the drug, which is approximately 35,515 doses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan R. Plaut and Amanda L. Myers are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department, Tri Agency Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys