From the Courts - District Court: Man sent to prison for meth, fentanyl trafficking in Havre, Billings

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana

  GREAT FALLS — A Minnesota man convicted by a federal jury for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in Havre and Billings in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

After a 2 ½ day trial in September 2023, a jury found Rembrandt Carlos Kemp of Fridley, Minnesota, 33, guilty of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, as charged in an indictment.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government presented evidence at trial showing that in January 2021, law enforcement began investigating fentanyl distribution in Havre by two individuals identified as Kemp and co-defendant Chantel Azure. Investigators conducted a controlled buy of fentanyl pills from Azure. During the sale, law enforcement observed Azure arrive in a vehicle with two male passengers inside. Agents saw Azure get out of her car, get into another vehicle where the sale occurred, and return to her vehicle with the two men still inside.

Law enforcement then initiated a traffic stop of Azure and the other two occupants. Kemp was located in the front passenger seat and his co-defendant, Martaveon Scott, was in the back seat.

Azure and Kemp were arrested on warrants and Scott was arrested for providing a false name.

Kemp was found with 4.32 grams of actual methamphetamine and a digital scale.

Scott was found with 28.43 grams of actual methamphetamine and 100 pills of fentanyl.

An additional 2.9 grams of actual meth was found in the trunk of the vehicle along with a .22 caliber AR-15 style rifle.

Additionally, $1,378 was found with Kemp and Scott in the car, including the $800 cash used for the controlled buy.

Azure was sentenced to 28 months in prison for her conviction in the case.

Scott is pending sentencing for his conviction in the case.

U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Tri-Agency Task Force, Havre Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening Project Safe Neighborhoods based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.