蒙大拿州 Great Falls 贩毒网成员认罪：曾供应80磅冰毒，面临15年至终身监禁
美国司法部蒙大拿区检察官办公室宣布，位于美国蒙大拿州卡斯卡德县的 Great Falls 市一宗大型贩毒网案件中，42岁的 Leland Neal Lapier, Jr. 已承认持有并意图分销冰毒的罪名。联邦检察官 Scott Twito 公布了这一认罪。Lapier 是这宗以 Great Falls 为据点的贩毒网调查中最后认罪的被告之一。
据检察官办公室介绍，Lapier 面临15年至终身监禁、至少10年监管释放、2,000万美元罚款与100美元特别评估。首席联邦地区法官 Brian M. Morris 主审此案，将在考虑联邦量刑指南与其他法定因素后定罪，量刑定于2027年3月17日举行。Lapier 目前附条件获释，等候后续程序。
检方在法庭文件中指称，Lapier 与一个由 Dan Wakeford 与 Mike Wakeford 等人运作的贩毒组织有关联。2024年，调查人员在亚利桑那州一处与该组织相连的储物单元中查获逾100磅冰毒与一支非法枪支。调查显示，Lapier 自2020年前后起向 Dan Wakeford 供应冰毒，其后约一年间共供应约30至80磅，每磅8,000美元。
其后 Dan Wakeford 被捕，Mike Wakeford 转而与 Lapier 合作购入并贩运冰毒，直至 Mike Wakeford 于2025年5月被捕。Lapier 此后继续贩运冰毒，于2026年2月在 Great Falls 被捕。调查还发现，另有多人在此期间向 Lapier 提供冰毒或从他处取得冰毒。
本案由助理联邦检察官 Jeff Starnes 与 Zeno Baucus 起诉，Russell Country 毒品工作组调查，工作组成员包括联邦调查局（FBI）与缉毒局（DEA）。案件属于国土安全工作组（HSTF）行动的一部分。（来源：美国司法部）
Great Falls Meth Ring Member Pleads Guilty in Montana: Supplied Up to 80 Pounds, Faces 15 Years to Life
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana announced that Leland Neal Lapier, Jr., 42, of Great Falls, a city in Cascade County, Montana, has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Scott Twito announced the plea. Lapier was one of the last defendants to plead guilty in a far-reaching drug ring investigation based in Great Falls.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Lapier faces 15 years to life in prison, at least 10 years of supervised release, a $20 million fine, and a $100 special assessment. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 17, 2027. Lapier was released subject to conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Lapier was linked to a drug trafficking organization run by, among others, Dan Wakeford and Mike Wakeford. In 2024, investigators seized over 100 pounds of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm in an Arizona storage unit connected to the conspiracy. Law enforcement learned that Lapier supplied methamphetamine to Dan Wakeford starting around 2020, providing an estimated 30 to 80 pounds over roughly the next year at $8,000 a pound.
After Dan Wakeford was arrested, Mike Wakeford connected with Lapier, and the two worked together buying and trafficking methamphetamine until Mike Wakeford was arrested in May 2025. Lapier, who continued to traffic methamphetamine, was arrested in Great Falls in February 2026. Investigators learned that multiple other individuals both provided and received methamphetamine from Lapier during this period.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, including the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), conducted the investigation. The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
来源：美国司法部
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：美国司法部总部大楼墙标（联邦固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters wall sign in Washington, D.C. (federal asset library).
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