Methamphetamine distributor in MT trafficking ring sentenced to 7 years in prison

Daniel Jimenez-Chavez, 40, received a longer sentence than nine co-defendants and a shorter sentence than four co-defendants. Two co-defendants also received seven-year sentences.

The government asked for a sentence of 10 years and 10 months, saying Jiminez-Chavez was at the “front line” of the conspiracy, according to the sentencing memorandum.

He is responsible for distributing nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine over a two-month period, between his arrival in Montana in February 2023 and his arrest on April 19, 2023, and provided methamphetamine to co-defendants Roderick Plentyhawk, Wendell Lefthand and Frederica Lefthand for distribution to reservations and the Billings area.

Although Jiminez-Chavez has been named as a key member of the conspiracy, “it is difficult to place him above all others in this entire conspiracy because he was only here for a very limited period of time,” according to a sentencing document prepared by the government.

The court ruled in favor of Jiminez-Chavez's attorney, Leo Selvey, who argued for a seven-year prison sentence. The reasons for the decision are not being made public because the defense's sentencing documents were filed under seal and the sentence was handed down behind closed doors.

Jiminez-Chavez moved from Washington state to the Crow reservation under the leadership of conspiracy leader Virgilio Arciga-Galvan. Arciga-Galvan, along with another major conspirator, is not in custody.

“He had no connection to Montana other than a directive to inspect one of the homes involved in this conspiracy and sell drugs for Virgilio Arciga-Galvan,” according to the government.

“He arrived in Montana for the sole purpose of distributing drugs to the Lodge Grass community,” the document continues. “He had no other role in the community and had nothing to offer other than the drugs he was responsible for selling. »

Arciga-Galvan paid Jiminez-Chavez $6,000 per month to guard his stash of methamphetamine and sell it to individuals involved in the conspiracy. Arciga-Galvan hired Jiminez-Chavez because the person he had previously placed in charge of him sold drugs on credit to individuals. The initial distribution of free medication is part of the business model.

“The men who came from Washington State to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine appeared to be very friendly and generous,” a court document from a co-defendant’s case states. “The cartel’s business model is to first locate and curry favor with local distributors. Then, when the bills started coming in, they would hire other, less friendly individuals.”

Co-conspirator Wendell Lefthand found himself in a difficult situation, accumulating a $17,000 debt to the cartel, who then threatened to kill him if he did not repay his debts. This led his sister, Frederica Lefthand, to join the conspiracy, in order to settle her debts.

Even though Jiminez-Chavez distributed drugs to other co-conspirators, he had no decision-making authority, according to Judge Susan Watters, who presided over the sentencing.

Jiminez-Chavez had been addicted to methamphetamine for more than a decade and had previously experienced homelessness. He grew up in “abject poverty” in Mexico, according to Watters. He began working in corn fields at age eight and moved to the United States at age 20, first to California where he worked in construction, then to Washington where he picked apples. .

“The cartel selects people like Mr. Chavez as vulnerable to promises of money, power and a better way of life,” Watters said.

Her participation in the plot gave her a place to live and easy access to methamphetamine, she said.

“I'm sure this all sounded pretty good to Mr. Chavez. The cartel knows how to select people.

She linked this to the cartel's attraction to the reserves.

“It’s not a big secret as to why the cartel ended up on the Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservations,” she said, citing the prevalence of drug abuse and a lack of law enforcement.