Sidney Meth Dealer Sentenced To Nearly 11 Years

A Sidney man who admitted to selling methamphetamine was sentenced last week to 10 years and 10 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Jose Eduardo Garcia, 31, pleaded guilty in August 2021 to possession with intent to distribute meth.

The government alleged in court documents that on two occasions in 2020, Garcia sold meth from his residence during controlled buys. The transactions totaled slightly more than 50 grams.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Eastern Montana Drug Task Force and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.