Missoula man sentenced to over 7 years in prison for drug trafficking in Missoula

MISSOULA - A Missoula man who trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl between Washington and Missoula was sentenced today to 87 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Joseph Daniel Cierley, 38, pleaded guilty in January 2026, to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.

The government alleged in court documents that Cierley with a pair of associates were transporting methamphetamine and fentanyl from Washington state to Missoula with plans to distribute.

Law enforcement officers began surveillance on Cierley and his associates in summer 2025 after receiving a tip from an informant that the group was bringing back "pounds of methamphetamine and ounces of fentanyl" from Washington.

Officers conducted a traffic stop in July 2025 of a vehicle in which the three men were traveling; Cierley was a passenger. In the vehicle, agents discovered 896.9 grams, or nearly 2 pounds, of meth, 66.4 grams of fentanyl pills and a loaded .357 revolver. A search of the men's cell phones showed that all three were involved in distributing the drugs. It also showed 1,000 of the fentanyl pills had been purchased by Cierley.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missoula Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.

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