A Kalispell man was sentenced to six and a half years in prison Thursday, April 5 after admitting to his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine across Northwest Montana.

Michael Norton, 42, of Kalispell and 45-year-old Hugh Shawgo of Libby both pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Montana, the two men flew to Spokane, Wash., via Norton’s private plane to pick up the methamphetamine before heading back to sell in their home state beginning in August 2017 through Sept. 13, 2017.

A search of Norton’s plane conducted by Northwest Drug Task Force officers yielded nearly 430 grams of meth and a .40-caliber handgun inside Shawgo’s bag.

The methamphetamine recovered from Shawgo was more than 98 percent pure and contained over 3,400 doses.

Shawgo received a sentence of 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to an additional charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.