Two sentenced for meth trafficking

Two Kalispell residents were sentenced Sept. 16 on methamphetamine trafficking charges in U.S. District Court.

Scarla Dee Russell, 33, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $100 after pleading guilty to distribution of meth.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice release, Russell provided six grams of meth to a confidential informant over the course of three transactions and sold 5.5 grams to a Northwest Drug Task Force undercover agent.

Russell admitted receiving the meth from a co-conspirator supplied by two people who were transporting the drugs to the Kalispell area from Washington.

After pleading guilty to distribution of meth, Traci Marie Jordan, 40, was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and also was fined $100.

A U.S. Department of Justice release stated a co-conspirator told authorities they had personally witnessed Jordan purchasing up to six ounces of meth from two people who were transporting the drugs to the Kalispell area from Washington and that Jordan was their source for meth.

An eventual search of Jordan’s home turned up multiple pipes with meth residue, eight baggies containing small amounts of meth and Jordan’s drug ledger — which identified other co-conspirators — in a locked safe in her closet. Also found in the basement of Jordan’s home was an area walled off by tarps where tables were set up, identified by a co-conspirator as the area where meth was cut and packaged.

Jordan admitted to receiving more than 14 ounces of meth, which she distributed to others. She also stated that the two individuals who transported the meth did so by car and plane.

Both investigations were a cooperative effort between the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation, the Northwest Drug Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.