Great Falls, Montana – Four defendants connected to a widespread methamphetamine trafficking organization in Montana received federal prison sentences this week, marking the latest convictions tied to an investigation that previously resulted in the seizure of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith announced the sentences for Jonathan James Henderson, Levi Jerome Dabler, Patrick James Wright and Stephanie Lee Hurd. All four had previously pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.
The defendants were linked to a trafficking organization operated from Great Falls by Dan Wakeford, Melissa Barone and Mike Wakeford.
The federal investigation into the organization reached a major point in 2024 when authorities arrested Barone and the Wakefords. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm from a storage unit in Arizona.
The three people identified as running the organization later received lengthy federal prison sentences. Dan Wakeford and Barone were each sentenced in 2025 to 20 years behind bars after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges. Mike Wakeford received a sentence of more than 18 years.
Investigation leads agents to additional defendants
As authorities investigated the Wakeford organization in 2024, they began identifying other people believed to be associated with its drug trafficking activities.
According to court documents, Henderson was identified as one of those associates. Investigators used an informant to purchase methamphetamine from Henderson as part of the investigation.
Agents later used a similar operation involving Levi Dabler, arranging for an informant to purchase methamphetamine from him. An informant was also sent to purchase methamphetamine from Hurd.
Henderson and Dabler eventually pleaded guilty in March 2026 to meth trafficking charges. Hurd entered a guilty plea to a meth distribution charge one month earlier, in February 2026.
Authorities also learned about Wright during approximately the same period. According to the government, investigators discovered that Wright had purchased methamphetamine and had connected at least one other person with a drug supplier.
Law enforcement stopped Wright in March 2025. During that traffic stop, officers discovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside his vehicle.
Wright pleaded guilty in February 2026 to possession with intent to distribute.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the cases.
Henderson received the longest sentence among the four defendants sentenced this week. He was ordered to serve seven years and 10 months in federal prison.
Levi Dabler was sentenced to three years and eight months, while Hurd received three years and six months. Wright was sentenced to two years and six months.
The four sentences follow additional prison terms imposed earlier this year on other defendants associated with the investigation. Travis Edward Dabler received four years and 10 months in prison, while Charles Nichols Williams was sentenced to three years and seven months.
“This announcement underscores the ongoing threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that continue to move significant quantities of illicit drugs into Montana,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cesar Avila. “Through coordinated investigations and interagency partnerships, law enforcement has disrupted these networks and seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine intended for distribution in our communities. We remain committed to protecting Montanans by targeting the organizations responsible and reducing the flow of these dangerous drugs into our state.”
The sentences are part of a broader federal effort to hold people at different levels of the trafficking organization responsible. While the leaders of the operation received some of the longest sentences, investigators continued working to identify other individuals accused of distributing methamphetamine or helping connect customers with suppliers.
Authorities also emphasized the effect methamphetamine trafficking can have on Montana’s tribal communities.
“The defendants brought methamphetamine into our tribal communities, putting lives at risk, fueling violence, and causing lasting harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “The sentencings are about accountability, but our work does not stop here. The FBI will continue working side-by-side with our tribal, federal, state and local partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the communities we serve.”
Investigation stretches across several years
The latest sentences show how the investigation continued well beyond the initial arrests in 2024.
The seizure of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm from the Arizona storage unit provided a major development in the case. The prosecution of Dan Wakeford, Melissa Barone and Mike Wakeford followed, with all three receiving lengthy prison terms in 2025.
Investigators then continued pursuing people allegedly connected to the distribution side of the organization. Controlled purchases involving informants helped authorities build cases against Henderson, Dabler and Hurd, while the traffic stop involving Wright resulted in the discovery of additional methamphetamine.
With the four defendants sentenced this week, at least six additional defendants connected to the broader investigation have now received prison terms in 2026, including Travis Edward Dabler and Charles Nichols Williams.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the cases.
The Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation, with federal officials describing cooperation among law enforcement agencies as an important part of efforts to dismantle organizations responsible for bringing large quantities of methamphetamine into Montana.
The latest sentences add to the substantial prison terms already imposed on the leaders of the Great Falls based organization and represent another stage in a case that has resulted in arrests, controlled drug purchases and the seizure of a significant amount of methamphetamine.
