MISSOULA, MT — A Missoula woman was sentenced to eight years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced Thursday.
Taylor Gale Penny, 35, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to the charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Penny’s conviction stems from a months-long investigation into her involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine across Missoula.
According to court documents, Penny and her co-defendant were under investigation from November 2023 through September 2024 for their roles in distributing illicit drugs. Law enforcement recovered over 1,000 fentanyl pills and 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine during a series of vehicle searches. Investigators learned that Penny and her co-defendant were moving large quantities of both drugs, including over 100,000 fentanyl pills and multiple pounds of methamphetamine.
Confidential sources told authorities that Penny was one of the largest drug distributors in the Missoula area, further corroborating the scale of the operation. Penny admitted to law enforcement following her September 3, 2024, arrest that she began distributing fentanyl in January 2024 to support her own drug habit. By March 2024, she was distributing approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills per week.
Prosecutors say that over the nine months leading up to her arrest, Penny distributed well over 120,000 fentanyl pills. A confidential informant verified these figures, stating that Penny had moved approximately 120,000 fentanyl pills and six ounces of fentanyl powder in the Missoula area during a six-month period.
At her sentencing, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen imposed the eight-year prison term, emphasizing the dangerous impact of Penny’s criminal actions on the community. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, and the prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the severity of drug trafficking crimes and the growing fentanyl crisis in communities across the country. The distribution of fentanyl, in particular, has contributed to a surge in overdose deaths, making law enforcement efforts to combat the drug trade a critical priority.
As Penny begins her prison sentence, the case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in addressing the widespread distribution of dangerous substances and the role that law enforcement and confidential informants play in dismantling drug networks.
