Box Elder woman admits trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl on Rocky Boys Indian Reservation and firearm crime

GREAT FALLS - A Box Elder woman accused of supplying the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation with large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from her residence and business and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Melody Rose Bernard, 50, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to use of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime. Bernard faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing was set for May 1 in Great Falls. Bernard was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that from October 2023 to May 21, 2024, Bernard trafficked substantial amounts of meth, fentanyl and cocaine to the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in Hill County. One witness told law enforcement about making four trips for Bernard since November 2023 and estimated transporting 23 pounds of meth, 4,500 fentanyl pills, five ounces of fentanyl powder and three ounces of cocaine for Bernard. The witness further estimated transporting $230,000 for Bernard and watched as Bernard distributed narcotics from her house in Box Elder and from her business, Ziah's. The witness also admitted that a firearm located in the residence belonged to the witness and that Bernard had given it to the witness for protection.

Law enforcement learned from other individuals that Bernard was selling narcotics out of Ziah's. One of the individuals described buying fentanyl pills two or three times from Bernard, received 25 to 40 pills each time and was charged $10 to $20 per pill. In an interview with another person, law enforcement learned that Bernard was a source of supply for the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, dealing from 500 to 1,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Bernard's common price for a pill was about $40, however, if someone purchased in bulk or if Bernard knew the buyer well, she would sell for as low as $10 to $20 per pill.

On May 21, 2024, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Bernard's residence. Both Bernard and a witness were in the house. The witness was located hiding in a bathroom. The agent observed a large amount of meth and cocaine in the bathtub with the water running, and it was apparent to the agent that the witness was attempting to destroy evidence. Law enforcement recovered meth, cocaine and fentanyl pills, approximately $8,800 cash and a firearm.

In addition, on March 27, 2024, co-defendant Airian Mariah Russette purchased two firearms from North 40 Outfitters in Havre and immediately traveled back to Box Elder where she traded the firearms to Bernard in exchange for four oxycodone pills. The two firearms were recovered several hours later after they were used in a double homicide and were still in the possession of the homicide suspects. Russette admitted to lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 to buy the firearms for someone other than herself, Bernard, a transaction known as a straw purchase. The firearms were a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Russette is pending sentencing for her conviction in the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case. The ATF, FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Rocky Boy's Police Department and Hill County Sheriff's Office, Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff's Office and Havre Police Department conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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