Meth trafficking sends Eureka man to prison

A Eureka man who admitted trafficking methamphetamine was sentenced Tuesday to six years and eight months in prison and four years of supervised release.

According to acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson, Tracy Eugene Conard, 50, pleaded guilty on Sept. 15, 2020, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The prosecution said in court documents filed in the case that Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office detectives were investigating Conard and in October 2019 conducted a monitored drug deal with another informant to buy drugs from Conard.

In November 2019, law enforcement received information that Conard was in Kalispell buying meth. Law officers stopped Conard while he returned from Kalispell. A passenger confirmed they were returning from a residence near Kmart in Kalispell where Conard went to pick up his truck. Conard had $2,127 in his pocket along with a small amount of marijuana.

Based on corroborating information and other observations, officers obtained a search warrant for Conard’s residence in Eureka. There, officers located scales, meth pipes, about 53.6 grams of meth, 9.9 grams of black tar heroin, small plastic baggies and firearms and ammunition.