GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man admitted today to dealing fentanyl pills on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.
Timothy Michael Koop, 61, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. Koop faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Jan. 20,2022. Koop was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that the FBI learned from interviews that Koop was a local distributor of fentanyl and other illegal pills on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and worked with out-of-state suppliers. In May and June, law enforcement used confidential sources to make controlled purchases of fentanyl from Koop or arranged to obtain the pills through Koop. Co-defendant Kelli Lamere has pleaded not guilty to charges. Officers obtained a search warrant for the Koop and Lamere residence based on information that an out-of-state supplier was present. When the warrant was executed, officer found Lamere and an individual from Michigan. Koop was located elsewhere and brought back to the residence. Koop told law enforcement that the Michigan individual was distributing fentanyl and claimed the person was paying him and Lamere in pills to stay at the residence. Officers found an Aleve brand pill bottle in the residence. An analysis determined the bottle contained 179 tablets, imprinted with “Aleve,” one of which was tested and determine to contain no controlled substance. The bottle also contained 258 greenish-yellow tablets imprinted with an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other. One of those tablets was tested and determined to contain fentanyl and two other substances.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan R. Plaut is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Tri Agency Task Force, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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