Belgrade Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Meth, Heroin Trafficking, Firearms Crimes
MISSOULA — A Belgrade man who admitted drug trafficking and firearm crimes after law enforcement found him slumped over the steering wheel of an idling vehicle, with drugs and a short-barreled shotgun inside, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Jeramiah Kayson Gohde, 24, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court allowed Gohde to self-report to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons.
The government alleged in court documents that in December 2021, Gohde, after absconding from probation, was found by the Bozeman Police Department officers slumped over the steering wheel of an idling vehicle on the street. Officers observed a partially open backpack on the front passenger seat, and Gohde’s probation officer requested a search of the vehicle. As officers removed the bag, Gohde stated, “there are multiple felonies in there.” The bag was found to contain heroin and meth. Also in the vehicle was a short-barreled modified shotgun with an obliterated serial number. Gohde was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous felony convictions. The investigation determined that Gohde purchased pound quantities of meth from suppliers in Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado, and was selling drugs to as many as 18 individuals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Missouri River Drug Task Force, Bozeman Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole.
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.
