A man and woman from Great Falls who were trafficking fentanyl together were recently sentenced to prison.
Kylie Lynn Minardi, 24, who pleaded guilty in June 2026 to distributing fentanyl and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl, was sentenced Oct. 14 to five years and two months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Great Falls man sentenced on federal fentanyl charge
Zachary Taylor Cortez, 28, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and was sentenced Sept. 23, 2026, to five years and two months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
Law enforcement suspected that Cortez and Minardi were distributing fentanyl in Great Falls.
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From June to August 2024, the Great Falls Police Department investigated the pair. With a warrant to track and search Cortez’s vehicle, law enforcement pulled the two over and found 97 grams of fentanyl in pill form and a digital scale in the car, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. GFPD, the Russell Country Drug Task Force and the DEA conducted the investigation.
