'Crystal Highway' Havreites plead guilty

The last of three Havreites who were charged in a federal meth-ring bust pleaded guilty Wednesday.

Justin Roland Turner was the last of the three men from Havre to plead guilty after a federal investigation of methamphetamine trafficking from California to North Dakota, named “Operation Highline Crystal Highway,” was conducted.

The investigation resulted in the prosecution of 20 defendants from along the drug traffick route and legal documents name Belt, Butte, Great Falls, Havre and Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation as being a part of the investigation.

The following is what the three men have pleaded guilty to and what penalties they face at their impending sentencing:

Turner, 32, of Havre pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering Tuesday at the Missouri River Federal Courthouse.

The maximum penalty for the first count is mandatory five years to 40 years imprisonment with at least four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine. The second charge’s maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment with three years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine.

Turner’s sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 16 in Great Falls.

Samuel Cale Chapman, 33, of Havre pleaded guilty Nov. 18 to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.

The maximum penalty for his charge is a mandatory five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison with four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine.

Chapman’s sentencing is scheduled for March 12 at 11 a.m. in Great Falls.

John Edward Derry, 35, of Havre pleaded guilty Dec. 16 to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He faces a maximum of 40 years imprisonment with supervised release and a $5 million fine for the first charge and 20 years imprisonment with three years supervised release and a $500,000 fine for the second.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 26 at 11 a.m. in Great Falls.