Whitefish father, son sentenced on cocaine charges

A Whitefish father-son duo was sentenced to prison Thursday for distributing cocaine in the Flathead Valley.

Scott Joseph Hineman, 60, and Benjamin Scott Hineman, 29, were sentenced to 120 months in prison and 60 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

According to an Offer of Proof filed by Asisstant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott, members of the Northwest Drug Task Force received information in June 2012 from a confidential informant that Scott Hineman was distributing cocaine in the Flathead Valley.

From June 2012 through March 2013, the confidential informant purchased varying amounts of cocaine from Scott Hineman under the direction of the task force. In April 2013, the task force obtained and executed a search warrant for Scott Hineman’s residence and recovered 828 grams of cocaine and six firearms.

Scott Hineman later spoke with members of law enforcement and admitted to traveling to Arizona to purchase large quantities of cocaine and selling the drug in the Flathead.

In March 2013, the task force was informed by a confidential informant that Benjamin Hineman was distributing cocaine as well. The informant indicated that he had been purchasing cocaine from Benjamin Hineman for three years, at a rate of approximately twice a month in quarter-pound quantities.

Later that month, the informant purchased four ounces of cocaine from Benjamin Hineman at the direction of the task force. In early April, the task force obtained and executed a search warrant on Benjamin Hineman’s residence, where 68 grams of cocaine and one firearm were recovered.

Scott Hineman, in addition to 120 months in prison, was sentenced to five years supervised release and a $100 special assessment. He was also ordered to forfeit $75,000 and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Benjamin Hineman, in addition to 60 months in prison, was sentenced to five years supervised release and $100 special assessment.