Missoula, Montana – A man from the Netherlands has been sentenced to decades behind bars after authorities dismantled a fentanyl distribution network responsible for flooding Montana communities with deadly narcotics.
Gerad Nigel Punch, 40, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in trafficking fentanyl and laundering drug proceeds. Punch pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the case.
International Trafficker Led Multi-State Drug Network
Federal prosecutors said Punch directed a drug trafficking organization that transported fentanyl from Phoenix, Arizona, into Montana and other states, including Texas and Washington. Between February 2023 and March 2025, members of the organization mailed and transported large quantities of fentanyl for distribution to local dealers.
“This defendant and his organization mailed a staggering quantity of drugs from Arizona to Montana and other states and laundered the proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. “The sentence he received today sends a message to drug traffickers around the country that we will take the fight to them to keep Montana safe. I’m grateful to the lawyers and staff in our office and our law enforcement partners for working so hard to dismantle this criminal organization.”
Once the drugs arrived in Montana, Punch either distributed them directly to traffickers or arranged for others to sell the narcotics locally. Authorities said he received payments through bank accounts he controlled but opened in the names of coconspirators. Funds were also moved using money transfer services such as Cash App and Western Union to conceal transactions and continue operations.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl. Officials said Punch personally possessed over 2,000 grams of fentanyl, which he sold to an undercover officer in Butte in October 2024.
Major Impact on Montana Communities
Investigators reported the organization was responsible for moving more than 300,000 fentanyl pills into Montana in 2024 before arrests were made.
“This investigation successfully dismantled a major drug trafficking and money laundering organization responsible for moving over 300,000 fentanyl pills into Montana in 2024 before they were arrested,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Deputy Special Agent in Charge for the Rocky Mountain Region Charles Engle. “HSI would like to thank all of its investigative partners for the outstanding work. The collaborative investigation led to charges against 14 defendants, making a significant impact on Montana and its communities.”
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen praised the cooperative effort.
“This investigation and subsequent conviction are a great example of how we can work with our federal partners to keep Montana communities drug free. I’m especially proud of the work that was done by the Division of Criminal Investigation to get this poison off our streets,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “As Attorney General, I will continue to use every resource available to the state to keep drugs out of our communities, criminals behind bars, and Montana safe.”
Federal officials emphasized that dismantling the financial networks behind trafficking operations is critical to stopping the flow of drugs.
“While the enforcement of our nation’s tax laws remains our top priority, IRS Criminal Investigation plays a critical role in the battle against narcotics trafficking as well,” said Amanda Prestegard, IRS-CI Denver Field Office Special Agent in Charge. “We target the illicit financial networks that fund these criminal organizations, and work side-by- side with our law enforcement partners to ensure drug traffickers cannot continue profiting from addiction and suffering in our communities.”
Postal inspectors also highlighted the dangers posed by fentanyl shipments through the mail.
“Today’s sentencing of Punch sends a clear message that those who traffic dangerous and deadly narcotics through our communities will be held accountable,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “The Postal Inspection Service along with our partners fights every day to keep these poisonous drugs from reaching communities across Montana. One pill, one gram, that’s all it takes to change the course of someone’s life. Removing someone like Punch from the streets is one step closer to the goal of ending this epidemic”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Lowney and Zeno Baucus. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, which includes agents from the Montana Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.
Officials say the sentence reflects the severity of fentanyl trafficking and the devastating toll the drug continues to take on communities across the country.
