Washington Drug “Kingpin” Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Meth, Fentanyl Trafficking on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Washington man known by sources as the “Kingpin” for the quantity of drugs he distributed throughout the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conviction on trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Anthony Penalosa Infante, 36, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Infante worked as a large-scale meth and fentanyl distributor from Washington who distributed drugs throughout the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Between October 2022 and February 2023, Infante was collectively in possession of more than 10 pounds of meth, nearly 4,000 fentanyl pills and approximately 37 grams of cocaine. Infante was identified by sources as the “Kingpin,” and he carried firearms while dealing drugs.
During a traffic stop in December 2022, officers recovered 100 fentanyl pills, two pistols, cocaine and methamphetamine from the vehicle in which Infante was a passenger. Infante later said the drugs were his and intended only for personal use. In a second traffic stop of Infante on the reservation 10 days later, officers located a half pound of meth, approximately 100 fentanyl pills, cocaine and a loaded 9mm magazine. Additionally, in January, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 100 fentanyl pills from Infante. In a third traffic stop of Infante on the reservation, officers located meth and 76 fentanyl pills. In February, the FBI executed a search warrant of the residence where Infante had been staying and recovered 10.27 pounds of meth, 3,568 fentanyl pills and $1,973 in cash. Ten pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 35,240 doses.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan R. Plaut, Amanda L. Myers and Stephanie D. Robles prosecuted the case. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.
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 of Justice 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.
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