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Description: Great Falls, Montana criminal lawyer represented Defendant charged with bringing methamphetamine and fentanyl to Great Falls and the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation for distribution.

After a two-day trial that began on Aug. 16, the jury found Aaron Ramirez Espinoza, 37, of Yakima, Washington, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances as charged in a superseding indictment. Espinoza faces a mandatory minimum 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. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Dec. 1. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Espinoza remains detained pending further proceedings.

“Removing from our streets drug traffickers like Espinoza who poison our communities with these highly addictive and dangerous drugs continues to be a top priority for our office and our law enforcement partners. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut, along with the FBI, Russell Country Drug Task Force and Great Falls Police Department for their diligent work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that in May 2021, law enforcement seized fentanyl pills from a witness, who identified his suppliers as a group of men from Yakima. The investigation led to Espinoza being identified as a member of this group. Law enforcement further learned that Espinoza was bringing drugs to Montana for distribution. On May 12, 2022, officers arrested Espinoza at a Great Falls business’ gas station, searched him and found in his jacket pocket a pouch containing a bag of meth and two bags of fentanyl pills. Officers also located a scale, a number of credit cards and a Washington identification card. Espinoza told law enforcement he was in a gang in Washington and that the drugs recovered were for personal use. However, Espinoza later said he had been going to meet someone at the business but that they never showed up and that he was “trying to make a living.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Russell Country Drug Task Force and Great Falls Police Department.

21:846=CD.F CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND TO POSSESS WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Title 21 U.S.C. § 846
(1)
21:846=CD.F CONSPIRACY TO DISTRIBUTE AND TO POSSES WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Title 21 USC 846
(1s)
21:841A=CD.F POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(l) and Title 18 U.S.C. § 2
(2)
21:841A=CD.F POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES Title 21 USC 841(a)(1) and Title 18 USC 2
(2s)

Outcome: 08/17/2022 55 Proposed Jury Instructions Supplemental by Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Clean Copy) (Branom, R.) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 56 MINUTE ENTRY for for JURY TRIAL held 8/17/2022 for defendant Aaron Ramirez Espinoza in Great Falls before Judge Brian Morris. AUSA Ethan Plaut, and Agent Ryan Kacher, FD Clark Matthews, Hank Branom and Defendant (in custody), present. Government continues with case in chief. Court reads Stipulation into the record. GOVERNMENT RESTS 11:32. Defendant moves for Rule 29; government with response. Court DENIES. DEFENDANT RESTS. Final instructions discussed. Counsel consent to JERS and agree that the stipulation will go back to the jury. Counsel also stipulates to a smoke break if requested. Jury present. Final Instructions presented. Closing arguments by counsel. Clerk draws Alternate Juror #8 from the wheel. Court addresses Alternate. Bailiff sworn. Jury is excused at 1:55 p.m. to begin deliberations. Parties stipulate to JERS and smoke breaks for any jurors that may request them. Parties return at 2:57 p.m. and are informed that a verdict has been reached at 2:40 p.m. Jury present and returns GUILTY verdict as to both counts. Jury is thanked and excused. Court sets sentencing for December 1, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. Government moves for continued detention, no objections. Appeal rights are explained. Defendant remanded into custody of USM. Hearing commenced at 8:30 a.m. and concluded at 3:10 p.m. (Court Reporter Yvette Heinze) (Government Witnesses Sworn and Examined: Steven Sheer, Kaylin Cunningham, Sam Wavra, Jason Mitchell, Ryan Kacher), (Government Exhibits Admitted: 16-19, 20 (sealed), 32, 22, 23(sealed), 24-29, 1,2,3, 1a, 2a, 3a,), (Law Clerk: K. Shea and L. Love), (Hearing held in Great Falls) (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 57 WITNESS LIST by USA as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 58 EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 59 Final Jury Instructions as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (Attachments: # 1 Verdict Form) (MMS) Modified on 8/17/2022 to add text of final (MMS). (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 60 Jury Note (Verdict) as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 61 UNREDACTED JURY VERDICT as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (1) Guilty on Count 1,1s,2,2s. (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 62 REDACTED JURY VERDICT as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 63 Remark: Counsel is reminded that pursuant to Local Rule 5.1(b): Unless otherwise ordered by the court, within 10 days of the conclusion of a hearing or trial, a party must file in CM/ECF an electronic version of each documentary exhibit that the party offered or introduced into evidence. For purposes of this rule, only exhibits which were considered by the judge or jury during the hearing or trial need to filed. (MMS) (Entered: 08/17/2022)
08/17/2022 64 Order Setting as to Aaron Ramirez Espinoza Sentencing set for 12/1/2022 at 02:30 PM in Great Falls, MT before Judge Brian Morris. SEE ORDER FOR ALL DEADLINES. Signed by Judge Brian Morris on 8/17/2022. (KAH) (Entered: 08/17/2022)

Defendant was found guilty by a jury.

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Defendant's Experts:

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