BREAKING NEWS: Absarokee man indicted on federal meth, weapon and money laundering charges
An Absarokee man was arrested Tuesday and indicted Wednesday on federal methamphetamine, weapons and money laundering charges.
Brett Wade Clouse, 36, appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 28, and pleaded not guilty to the following federal felony offenses:
•Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
•Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
•Conspiracy to commit money laundering
•Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Clouse is being held at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility without bail.
According to the grand jury indictment, from approximately January 2013 until approximately June 18, 2015, Clouse knowingly and unlawfully conspired with known and unknown people to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in Fishtail.
During that same time frame Clouse allegedly conspired with Rinda Lee Morgan and others to possess with the intent to distribute "5 grams or more of pure actual methamphetamine" in Fishtail and Helena, according to the indictment.
Also during that same time frame Clouse is accused of conducting "financial transactions affecting interstate commerce, which transactions involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, that is, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine" and while "conducting and attempting to conduct such financial transactions, the defendant knew that the property involved in the financial transactions represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity and he further conducted the financial," according to the indictment.
And finally, he is accused of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on June 18. 2015.
Clouse was with Fishtail resident Merrill Clark Gardner when Gardner was arrested on federal methamphetamine charges last summer. The case against Gardner involved approximately 6 1/2 pounds of methamphetamine. He has entered into a plea agreement and is facing a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. Gardner has also agreed to forfeit his property on Delger Road.