United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana
03/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/05/2026 14:18
Washington man sentenced to over 16 years in prison for drug and gun charges
Press Release
Washington man sentenced to over 16 years in prison for drug and gun charges
Thursday, March 5, 2026
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For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana
MISSOULA - A Washington man who was convicted of possessing drugs and guns was sentenced today to 194 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Felipe Michael Garza, 32, was found guilty by a jury of one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm in November 2025.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that on August 13, 2024, Garza was seen driving a black Chevrolet Silverado. He failed to stop at a stop sign and did not have a rear license plate on the truck. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop, and Garza pulled off on the lawn of a residence that was not his. The officer was advised Garza had a $1,000,000 warrant out of Washington and requested Garza step out of the truck. Garza seemed intent on giving his belongings to the other occupants of the truck. After being arrested, Garza admitted he had fentanyl in his fanny pack and that he had used methamphetamine approximately two hours prior. Garza also admitted there was marijuana and firearms in the truck.
Later that day, the truck and fanny pack were searched. Officers located a bag weighing 144.8 grams containing methamphetamine, a small baggie with 55 grams of suspected fentanyl pills, and $500 cash. The truck contained two firearms in the console, approximately three pounds of marijuana, a blue notebook, a scale, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, and $1881.00 cash. The notebook contained drug prices related to various drug types and amounts.
Garza has prior convictions for several felony offenses that prohibit him from possessing firearms.
The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and Polson Police Department conducted the investigation.
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Updated March 5, 2026
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Project Safe Neighborhoods
United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana published this content on March 05, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 05, 2026 at 20:18 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]