Marion meth dealer gets prison time

Selling methamphetamine to an undercover agent in 2018 sent a Marion resident to prison Thursday for one year and one day, to be followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said Rene Myron Gardner, 62, pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute meth.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said that in the fall of 2018, Gardner conspired with others to sell meth. An undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives bought about an ounce of meth from Gardner at his residence. The agent paid Gardner $1,000.

Then in November 2018, the agent bought an ounce of meth and a sawed-off shotgun from one of Gardner’s co-conspirators. The meth deal occurred at Gardner’s residence, while the group went to the co-conspirator’s residence to complete the shotgun purchase. The agent paid $1,250 for the meth and $500 for the firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ATF. Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018.

Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.