Plea change in California meth ring case

Staff report

A Havre man is among defendants charged with participating in a methamphetamine distribution ring, that ran from California through Montana, to plead guilty in federal District Court in Great Falls.

Samuel Cale Chapman, 33 at the time he was charged, pleaded guilty before federal District Judge Brian Morris Wednesday to a count of conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and admitted to possessing property subject to forfeiture.

Codefendant Corey James Lampert also entered guilty pleas, and John Edward Derry of Havre has asked to change his plea.

Morris set the sentencing hearings for Chapman and Lampert for March 12, and the two men were still in jail this morning pending hearings and the sentencing.

Derry, 35, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Also charged in the indictment were Michelle Renee Yallup, 30, and Lawrence George Griner Jr. of Butte, 43, Jeffrey Edward June of Augusta, 45, Martin Edward Leland of Belt, 32; Eduardo Ocegueda-Ruiz, 30, and Joshua Alberto Rodriguez, 28, both of Los Angeles, and William Thomas Dixon, 25, Tyler Charles Bright-Goodsell, 30, Terry Leroy Brasda, 45, Jessica Margaret McKinlay aka Jessica Bright, 26, Megan Lynn Runstrom, 31, Katie Leann Wagner, 27, and Sarah Jane Young, 35, all of Great Falls.