Polson man denies federal drug charges

A Polson man with a history of brushes with the law is now facing federal charges for distribution of methamphetamine.

Kelly Gordon Dupuis, 26, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Missoula to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, Dupuis faces life in prison, $10 million in fines and five years of supervised release.

He is listed with co-defendants James Michael Randall, 31, and Kaulika Thara Aresenberg, 35, both of Missoula. Aresenberg and Randall have pleaded not guilty to a single count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

At the time of his arrest, Dupuis was on probation for a felony burglary conviction in Lake County from November 2015. Dupuis broke into a Ronan store and stole a bank deposit and small safe on Jan. 18, 2015.

Dupuis had also been charged but not convicted in a felony possession of dangerous drugs case in Lake County after he was found passed out in a vehicle on May 24, 2014.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper allegedly found a gram of meth and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A blood draw at the hospital showed meth in Dupuis’ blood.

 The case was investigated by the Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.