Meth Lands Great Falls Woman In Prison For 20 Years

A Great Falls woman who was tangled up in a multi-year drug trafficking operation will now spend the next two decades behind bars.

Take a look at the case details below. 👇

Methamphetamine Lands Great Falls Women In Prison

Melissa Ann Barone has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, along with five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized nearly $75,000 in cash, a firearm, a BMW, and a motorhome that are all tied to the drug trafficking operation.

Barone initially pleaded guilty back in December 2024 to the charges of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Cross-State Drug Network Uncovered

The investigation kicked off in 2021 when authorities discovered that Barone along with a codefendant were involved in distributing multiple pounds of meth around the Great Falls area.

The investigation continued over the next four years, as law enforcement tracked the pair's activities across multiple states.

The meth was being sourced from Colorado, Washington, Arizona, and Texas and brought back to Montana.

Various witnesses told police that the group was spending an upwards of $100,000 and buying 100 pounds of meth at a time.

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Meth Arrest In Great Falls

In February 2023, during a traffic stop on the way back from Texas, police discovered $17,000 in cash hidden inside the vehicle.

Later in May 2024, Barone was arrested in Great Falls while a federal warrant was being executed.

While searching her purse, police found...

• 444.4 grams of methamphetamine

• $7,911 in cash

• Drug paraphernalia and a digital scale

• An additional 46.3 grams of meth in her vehicle

In a separate search, police seized $ 5,000 that was vacuum sealed inside a BMW, located beneath the backseat.

Russell County Drug Task Force

This case was spearheaded by the Russell County Drug Task Force and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The investigation was part of a broader effort that was put together by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is a nationwide initiative that targets high-level drug traffickers.

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