Polson man convicted of meth possession with intent to distribute

A Polson man faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release after he was convicted in federal court of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

A federal jury in Great Falls convicted Roy Allen Shostak, 28, of Polson, after a one-day trial. Shostak is being detained pending sentencing, which U.S. District Chief Judge Brian Morris set for Oct. 7.

A grand jury handed down an indictment for Shostak earlier this year, stating that he “knowingly possessed, with intent to distribute, 50 grams” of methamphetamine last May in Lewis and Clark County.

Prosecutors presented evidence that in May 2020, Helena Police Department and members of the Missouri River Drug Task Force received information that Shostak was armed with a gun and selling drugs. Law enforcement officers also were aware that the defendant had absconded from probation.

After observing Shostak’s activities, officers arrested him on outstanding warrants. Following the arrest, officers found a marijuana pipe, although the defendant was not a holder of a medical marijuana card.

Shostak’s car was seized pending a search warrant. While conducting a search warrant of his car, officers found three plastic baggies of methamphetamine, a smartphone and a digital scale in a backpack that was located on the front passenger seat. Inside the glove box, officers located a hand-written bill of sale, a smartphone, a piece of paper containing Shostak’s Social Security number, date of birth, email address, and physical address and credit card number, and a used syringe in the center console.

Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search the phone and uncovered text messages between Shostak and third parties where Shostak discussed his trafficking of various drugs. The jury deliberated for 18 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty.