A Great Falls woman involved in methamphetamine distribution has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Melissa Ann Barone, 55, will also serve five years of supervised release following her sentence. The court has seized nearly $75,000 in cash, a gun, a BMW, and a motorhome as part of the government’s forfeiture actions.
Barone pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris handled the sentencing.
The government presented evidence showing that Barone and a co-defendant began distributing methamphetamine around Great Falls in 2020. From 2020 to 2024, witnesses informed law enforcement about their drug distribution activities and their trips to Colorado, Washington, and Arizona to obtain methamphetamine.
Sources noted that during a 10-month period from 2020 to 2021, they bought over six to eight pounds of methamphetamine from the defendants. In subsequent years, Barone's trafficking involved smaller quantities, but law enforcement found her co-defendant purchasing large quantities of up to 100 pounds at a time.
In early 2023, a traffic stop of the defendants resulted in the discovery of $17,000 in cash. Further investigation in 2024 led to a warrant and Barone’s arrest in May of that year. Authorities found substantial quantities of methamphetamine and cash during searches conducted at the time.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and was investigated by the Russell Country Drug Task Force under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. This effort focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a collaborative, intelligence-based approach. Visit Justice.gov/OCDETF for more information.