Idaho woman sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking drugs on the Flathead Indian Reservation

MISSOULA - An Idaho woman who possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intention of selling on the Flathead Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 132 months in prison to be followed by 7 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Nicole Lynn Shain, 40, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on July 1, 2024, law enforcement officers were patrolling in Pablo, MT, when they observed a black SUV with an Idaho license parked near an area frequented by persons actively addicted to controlled substances. Investigators circled the block to surveil the vehicle, but upon returning to the area where they'd seen the SUV, it was no longer there.

Several hours later, investigators again saw the SUV parked in Ronan, MT. The SUV had a single occupant, Nicole Shain. Investigators learned Shain had been previously convicted of distributing dangerous drugs in Idaho. Investigators stopped Shain after observing her dispose of a piece of tin foil with drug residue on it. Investigators applied for a search warrant for Shain's vehicle, and found inside 26.8 grams of methamphetamine, several grams of fentanyl powder and 1,092 pills containing fentanyl. These quantities of drugs significantly exceeded a user amount.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations and Flathead Tribal Police conducted the investigation.

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