Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth

MISSOULA - A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.

Jason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart's Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.

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