A 55-year-old Missoula resident faces a decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug and weapons charges tied to a significant narcotics seizure. Patrick William Allen was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen to 10 years in federal custody, followed by four years of supervised release.
Federal agents discovered more than half a pound of fentanyl in Allen’s hotel room during a January search, along with 39 grams of methamphetamine and 5 grams of crack cocaine. Investigators also seized $8,200 in cash from the Broadway Inn Hotel location.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The case began when authorities received a tip about Allen’s drug activity in late January. An informant told investigators that Allen was supplying narcotics in the Missoula area and admitted to purchasing fentanyl from him the previous week. A second source reported Allen was staying at the Broadway Inn Hotel, prompting federal agents to seek a search warrant.
When agents executed the warrant, they found Allen in the hotel room with another woman present. Allen immediately informed agents that he had a loaded firearm in an open suitcase on the bed. During the search, agents located the large quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine. Allen told investigators that all the drugs and money were his alone and that the woman in the room was not involved in the activity.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Allen pleaded guilty to the charges in February. Judge Christensen’s sentence imposes a significant federal penalty reflecting the quantity and type of controlled substances involved. The supervised release period will extend his federal oversight well beyond his prison term.
The FBI assisted in the investigation, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
The case reflects ongoing enforcement efforts against high-level drug suppliers operating in Montana. Fentanyl trafficking has declined in recent years, but methamphetamine and cocaine remain significant challenges for law enforcement in the state, according to state authorities.
