A former Flathead County resident who admitted trafficking methamphetamine while serving a state sentence at a prerelease center in Billings was sentenced on Jan. 30 to eight years in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters sentenced Jeffrey Mark Scales, 53, to possession with intent to distribute meth following his guilty plea. Watters departed from a guideline range of about 10 years to 12 years.

Scales, who admitted to having used meth for more than 30 years, apologized in court for “polluting Billings.” His defense attorney, Lisa Bazant, had sought a five-year sentence, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek had recommended about nine years.

According to the indictment, a state probation officer contacted a Billings police detective in April 2013 with information that Scales was dealing meth at the prerelease center. A search by the officer turned up $10,000 in Scales’ sock and another $2,000 in his wallet.

Scales also allegedly admitted he had 10 ounces of meth in his home. Detectives searched his residence and found about 7.8 ounces of meth that tested 99.1 percent pure.

Scales, who is familiar to Columbia Falls law enforcement, has been convicted in Flathead County of state felony charges for bad checks, theft and being a persistent felony offender. His co-defendant in the Billings case, Glover Charles Mathis Jr., 46, also pleaded guilty to meth distribution charges and awaits sentencing in March.