A federal judge in Great Falls has sentenced Christopher Paris Stockdale, a 34-year-old man from Helena, to 11 years and eight months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl. The sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Stockdale had pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the drugs. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case.
“Stockdale, armed with a gun, worked with others to bring these poisons into Helena. His conduct had the potential to seriously injure or kill thousands of users, but with today’s sentence, he is no longer a risk to our community for a long time. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute drug traffickers like Stockdale to ensure they end up in federal prison with him,” said U.S. Attorney Laslovich.
Court documents revealed that Stockdale was found with multiple firearms and was responsible for importing large quantities of fentanyl pills and meth into Montana while on state parole for a previous drug offense. In early 2023, law enforcement officers developed information linking Stockdale to narcotics distribution in Helena, leading to his detention on parole violations. A search of his vehicle uncovered several hundred fentanyl pills, more than 100 grams of methamphetamine, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition.
The investigation was conducted by the Missouri River Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), while the prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
For further details about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.