22-Year-Old Faces $1M Fine in Montana Drug Bust

Montana law has been a hot streak lately! I was just telling you about some of the amazing things our law enforcement has done for downtown Great Falls and now, I get to tell you about how they continue to dismantle a major drug ring operating in Montana.

Maybe I'm a little out there but these kinds of cases always intrigue me.

Montana Law Enforcement Shuts Down Major Drug Ring

In a press release from the Montana Department of Justice, we learn authorities captured a woman from Missouri who was part of a Chicago-based drug ring.

"A Missouri woman who was part of a Chicago-based drug ring that illegally obtained oxycodone from Montana pharmacies admitted to charges today", Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said in the press release. "Whit’lee Laurie Amari Miller, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone."

According to the release, "Miller faces 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, at least three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. "

ALSO READ: 15 Examples of Police Stepping Up For Downtown Great Falls

Shoot, I don't know how she's gonna scrape up $1 million dollars. It's hard enough making a million dollars when you're not behind bars, but in prison? Ouch.

So, what was this 22-year-old's role in this Chicago-based drug ring?

How Criminals Get Illegal Oxycodone in Montana

According to the Montana Department of Justice, Miller and her drug buddies would fly into Montana, use fake prescriptions, and visit pharmacies across the state to get oxycodone and "other controlled substances."

Miller along with her druggie buddies would hand off the illegally obtained drugs over to Brandon Lavelle and Winfrey Jaylan Javier Wash, the leaders of the ring, who plead guilty to their own charges back on July 1st.

Get our free mobile app

Lavelle and Wash were supposedly the "brains" behind the operation, guiding everyone on which pharmacies to go to and they even paid for their travel expenses... how thoughtful!