Grenade-toting meth dealers sentenced to federal prison

A Hungry Horse couple was sentenced last month after a federal raid on their home found more than a pound of methamphetamine, multiple weapons and even a 37 mm grenade launcher with explosive grenades.

Misty Leanne Beck, also known as Misty Leanne Maddox, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen to six years in federal prison on a count of conspiracy to distribute meth. Her husband, Neal Allen Maddox was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on one count of conspiracy to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Both reached plea deals in the case in June.

Federal law enforcement officials raided their home in January 2016. Both had previous felony convictions.

Law enforcement confiscated a number of guns from the home, mostly rifles. But they also found a 37 mm grenade launcher attached to an Olympic Arms P.C.R. rifle and six explosive grenades.

According to the plea agreement, Maddox had conspired to sell more than 500 grams of meth, which is more than a pound, while Beck had conspired to sell more than 50 grams of meth.

Defense for Beck argued leniency because she had suffered an abusive childhood while growing up, including parents who gave her meth. Her mother, it was noted, died of an overdose. Beck, according to the defense, was now clean and had been a good mother to her two teenage children.

Maddox’s defense also pleaded for leniency, claiming he, too had been abused as a child and had alcoholic parents. The defense argued he was a “hardworking honest man,” despite having been in the juvenile justice system since age 11. The defense also disputed claims by prosecutors that Maddox considered paying another individual to kidnap someone who owed him money over a drug debt.

The defense also noted that Maddox had gone through several anger management and parenting classes as well as correspondent Bible courses.

A third party in the case was sentenced last year on a plea deal as well. Richard Wayne Stroh of Missoula was sentenced in April to five years in prison for conspiracy to distribute meth in Hungry Horse and Bonner, among other locales.

Stroh also made allegations against Maddox that Maddox had ties to the Aryan Brotherhood, a claim that Maddox’s attorney disputed.

The pre-sentencing reports for all three have apparently been sealed and were unavailable.