Source: Office of United States Attorneys
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder woman who trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl while possessing a firearm on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 210 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Melody Rose Bernard, 50, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that from October 2023 to May 21, 2024, Bernard trafficked substantial amounts of meth, fentanyl, and cocaine to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Hill County. One witness told law enforcement about making four trips for Bernard since November 2023 and estimated transporting 23 pounds of meth, 4,500 fentanyl pills, five ounces of fentanyl powder, and three ounces of cocaine for Bernard. The witness further estimated transporting $230,000 for Bernard and watched as Bernard distributed narcotics from her house in Box Elder and from her business, Ziah’s. The witness also admitted that a firearm located in the residence belonged to the witness and that Bernard had given it to the witness for protection.
Law enforcement learned from other individuals that Bernard was selling narcotics out of Ziah’s. One of the individuals described buying fentanyl pills two or three times from Bernard, received 25 to 40 pills each time and was charged $10 to $20 per pill. In an interview with another person, law enforcement learned Bernard was a source of supply for the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, dealing from 500 to 1,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Bernard’s common price for a pill was about $40, but she would sell them for as little as $10 or $20 per pill to customers willing to buy larger quantities.
On May 21, 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Bernard’s residence. Both Bernard and a codefendant were in the house. The codefendant was located hiding in a bathroom. The agent observed a large amount of meth and cocaine in the bathtub with the water running, and it was apparent to the agent the codefendant was attempting to destroy evidence. Law enforcement recovered meth, cocaine, fentanyl pills, approximately $8,800 in cash, and a firearm.
In addition, on March 27, 2024, another co-defendant purchased two firearms from North 40 Outfitters in Havre and immediately traveled back to Box Elder where the firearms were traded to Bernard in exchange for four oxycodone pills. The two firearms were recovered several hours later after they were used in a double homicide and were still in the possession of the homicide suspects. The co-defendant admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 to buy the firearms for Bernard, a transaction known as a straw purchase. The firearms were a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by FBI, ATF, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, and Hill County Sheriff’s Office.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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