Browning man sentenced to 16 years for sexually abusing, giving meth to minor

GREAT FALLS—A Browning man convicted of having sex with and giving methamphetamine to a minor at his home on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced on Thursday to 16 years in prison and six years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Bruce Dragonfly, 56, pleaded guilty in July to aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and to distribution of a controlled substance to a minor.

U.S. District Judge Bryan M. Morris presided.

An investigation found that in 2015 at Dragonfly’s home, the victim, a minor, and others attended a party in which everyone could use methamphetamine together. The evidence, prosecutors said, showed that Dragonfly supplied at least some of the meth to the partygoers. During the party, Dragonfly requested the victim perform a sex act on him and in exchange, provided her meth.

Dragonfly continued providing the victim meth in exchange for sex, money or other non-sexual favors until mid-2017, both on and off the Blackfeet Reservation. Dragonfly and the victim typically communicated through Facebook and Internet chat services to arrange meetings.

In an interview with FBI agents in April 2018, Dragonfly confirmed he had previously provided the victim with meth in exchange for sex.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.