Lodge Grass man sentenced to four years in prison for trafficking meth in large-scale investigation centered on Crow Indian Reservation

BILLINGS - A Lodge Grass man who trafficked methamphetamine as part of large-scale, multi-state operation that was centered on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Morgan Luke Hugs, 34, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that federal law enforcement, in collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, engaged in a large-scale, multiple-state narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of meth for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations. Hugs was one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation and was considered a mid-level dealer.

The government further alleged that from about January 2022 until March 2023, Hugs was receiving meth from Spear Siding and distributing it to others on the Crow Reservation. Hugs received meth from two main co-conspirators involved with the investigation, sold ounce quantities and used other people to help him conduct sales. Hugs also acted as a protector/enforcer for another co-conspirator and would use stolen guns to help pay off his drug debt to others at Spear Siding. In addition, law enforcement obtained meth from Hugs in a controlled purchase in Hardin in November 2022.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.

The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

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