Pablo man gets probation for role in drug dealing

A 27-year-old Pablo man was sentenced Wednesday during U.S. District Court proceedings in Billings to three years of probation after admitting he participated in a conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana.

Matthew Nicolai maintained drug-related communications with and ran a money stash house for the owner of a vehicle which, when searched, was found to contain airline tickets, a cellphone, $14,154 in cash and small amounts of marijuana.

The owner was inside the vehicle when it was stopped on July 20, 2010, by a Yellowstone County deputy after it was determined the vehicle owner had a valid arrest warrant. The person first provided a false name before telling the truth. It was after a police dog indicated the presence of narcotics that a search warrant was obtained.

The cellphone found inside the vehicle contained text messages blatantly discussing pound prices of marijuana, smuggling bulk cash via airlines, depositing bulk cash from drug proceeds into bank accounts and dealing marijuana on Indian reservations in Montana.

Text messages indicated marijuana was being distributed to Browning, Polson, Crow Agency, Havre, St. Ignatius, Great Falls, Missoula, Cut Bank, Lolo and other places throughout Montana.

Among the people involved in the communications was Nicolai, who later admitted to authorities he had kept thousands of dollars in cash at his home for the person.

Nicolai also was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.

Also sentenced for his involvement in the conspiracy was Nicholas Anderson, 26, of Bozeman. He was sentenced to one year and four months in prison and four years of probation. Anderson also was ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.