Montana DCI Agents Secure Nine-Year Sentence for Drug Trafficker

HELENA, MT — Following a thorough investigation by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Owen David James, a former resident of Beaverhead County, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his involvement in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl across southwest Montana. This sentence was announced today by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen.

James faced legal repercussions after pleading guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy charges related to the distribution and possession of controlled substances. Initially apprehended by agents of the DCI-led Southwest Montana Drug Task Force (SWMDTF) in September 2023, James was found to be trafficking substantial amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Washington state to Butte, Montana. During the arrest, law enforcement officials seized about 800 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills, and a stolen handgun.

Attorney General Knudsen, while lauding the efforts of the DCI and SWMDTF, emphasized the broader impact of these operations, highlighting the significant reduction in fentanyl-related activities, “Thanks to the work of law enforcement and anti-drug task forces across the state, there are a lot fewer dangerous drugs on the streets of Montana, and drug traffickers are being held accountable,” Knudsen stated.

Last week Knudsen announced that under the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA), fentanyl seizures have decreased by 31% in 2024 from the previous year, yet remain alarmingly 46% higher than in 2022 and 354% higher than in 2021. Authorities made 551 felony arrests last year, up from 406 in 2023.

The SWMDTF, comprising various law enforcement entities from the region, including DCI agents, local sheriff’s offices, and a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, continues its collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking in the area. The case against James was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, reflecting a cooperative endeavor between local and federal agencies to ensure community safety and uphold the law.