Zachary Taylor Cortez admitted to trafficking fentanyl pills in federal court on May 28, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Cortez, 28, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and a count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Great Falls man sentenced for trafficking meth, fentanyl [2024]

He faces five to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine, at least four years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided in Great Falls and will determine any sentence based on federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Great Falls woman sentenced in connection with narcotics ring [2024]

Sentencing was set for Sept. 24 and Cortez was remanded into custody pending further proceedings. As of May 29, he was being held in the Cascade County Adult Detention Center.

From June to August 2024, the Great Falls Police Department investigated Cortez and a co-defendant, whom law enforcement officials suspected were distributing fentanyl in town. During the investigation, officers obtained a warrant to track and search Cortez’s vehicle. Police then pulled over the vehicle and discovered 97 grams of fentanyl in pill form and a digital scale, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office, which is prosecuting the case.

Great Falls man sentenced on federal meth trafficking charge

GFPD, the Russell Country Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.