Missoula, Montana – A Missoula man who participated in a drug trafficking operation that transported methamphetamine and fentanyl from Washington state into Montana has been sentenced to more than four and a half years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors announced that 33-year-old Nathanial John Shoen received a sentence of 55 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the scheme.
Shoen pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer imposed the sentence.
Investigation Uncovered Interstate Drug Operation
According to court records, investigators determined that Shoen was working alongside Devon Bond and Joseph Cierley to bring illegal drugs from Washington into Missoula for distribution.
The investigation began during the summer of 2025 after law enforcement received information from a confidential informant. Authorities were told that the group was regularly returning from Washington carrying significant quantities of illegal narcotics.
The informant reported that the men were transporting “pounds of methamphetamine and ounces of fentanyl” into Montana.
Based on that information, officers began surveillance of Shoen, Bond, and Cierley.
The investigation reached a turning point in July 2025 when authorities conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle occupied by the three men.
During the stop, investigators discovered a substantial quantity of drugs and a firearm.
Authorities seized approximately 896.9 grams of methamphetamine, nearly two pounds, along with 66.4 grams of fentanyl pills. Officers also found a loaded .357 revolver inside the vehicle.
Evidence Linked All Three Men To Drug Distribution
Investigators gathered additional evidence by examining cell phones recovered during the case.
According to prosecutors, information found on the devices showed that all three men were involved in distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Federal authorities said the evidence demonstrated that the group was not simply transporting drugs but intended to distribute them after arriving in Montana.
Shoen was one of three defendants charged in connection with the trafficking operation.
His co-defendants have already been sentenced.
Devon Bond, 29, received a sentence of 10 years and six months in federal prison on April 24, 2026. He was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Joseph Cierley, 38, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missoula Drug Task Force.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office handled the case.
The sentencing closes another chapter in an investigation that targeted the movement of dangerous drugs across state lines. Authorities continue to emphasize that methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking remain major concerns because of the serious risks these substances pose to communities throughout Montana and across the country.
