Bozeman, Montana – A 51-year-old man from Bozeman, Rene Montenegro-Virrey, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl. Following his release, he will face five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen handed down the sentence, with the announcement made by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
According to court documents, investigators first learned of Montenegro-Virrey’s activities in August 2022. Authorities received information that he intended to travel to Bozeman with a large shipment—specifically 7,000 fentanyl pills and five pounds of methamphetamine. Over the course of the following months, law enforcement conducted a series of undercover operations involving controlled purchases from the defendant.
In August 2024, Montenegro-Virrey was again intercepted during a planned transaction. During the operation, investigators seized four pounds of methamphetamine from his vehicle.
Efforts to Reduce Crime Under Project Safe Neighborhoods
The investigation was led by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case as part of a broader effort to tackle drug-related crime through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN is a nationwide strategy to reduce violent crime and gun violence by promoting collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Launched on May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice’s strengthened crime reduction strategy emphasizes building trust in communities, supporting local violence prevention organizations, enforcing laws strategically, and measuring results.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit justice.gov/psn.
