Federal Prison Term Handed Down in Montana
David Alan Moorse is heading to federal prison.
The 39-year-old Helena resident was sentenced to 148 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the punishment for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case in Great Falls. Moorse pleaded guilty in April 2025 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Intelligence Gathering and Casino Arrest
The case began with a tip.
Law enforcement initiated the investigation after receiving intelligence that Moorse was distributing fentanyl powder in Montana, according to court documents. Investigators discovered that Moorse communicated with a source. He claimed to have a good hook up in Helena and transmitted photographs showing a brick of fentanyl powder.
The net closed on January 9, 2025.
Officers located Moorse at a Helena casino and arrested him on a state probation violation warrant. A subsequent search of his vehicle yielded 94 grams of methamphetamine, 106 grams of fentanyl pills, and 25 grams of fentanyl powder.
Interrogation and Cell Phone Evidence
Interrogation rooms often reveal motives.
During a post-arrest interview with law enforcement, Moorse admitted to selling between one and ten fentanyl pills daily to generate income for purchasing a few grams of methamphetamine for personal use. However, he contested the distribution of larger quantities despite the physical evidence recovered from his vehicle.
The phone told a broader story.
Federal investigators subsequently secured a search warrant for Moorse’s cellular phone. There, they recovered electronic messages directly linking him to the distribution of both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Task Force and Neighborhood Initiative
Multiple agencies built the case.
The investigation into Moorse’s operations was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force. Prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The prosecution falls under a broader federal umbrella. This legal matter is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative that unites public safety agencies at all levels alongside local residents to drive down gun crime and acts of violence. On May 26, 2021, the Department unveiled an enhanced violent crime reduction initiative designed to reinforce PSN by prioritizing community trust and legitimacy, backing local groups that work to stop violence proactively, establishing targeted enforcement strategies, and tracking outcomes.