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A joint investigation by drug agents in Wyoming and Montana reportedly led to the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars of meth from a Cody man’s home last week.
Daniel R. Feketi was …
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A joint investigation by drug agents in Wyoming and Montana reportedly led to the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars of meth from a Cody man’s home last week.
Daniel R. Feketi was arrested Thursday night, after agents reportedly found a pound of meth at the 52-year-old’s residence in Green Acres Mobile Home Park. Feketi has been charged with a felony count of possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah set bond at $75,000, cash or surety; if Feketi wants to be released from jail while the case is pending, he’ll either need to post $75,000 or pay a bondsman $7,500 to put up a bond on his behalf.
Deputy Park County Attorney Jack Hatfield unsuccessfully argued that Feketi should be required to post $100,000 in cash to be released.
“We have a very large quantity of methamphetamine which the defendant possessed,” Hatfield argued in part. “And from the limited information I have so far from DCI [the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation], that large quantity pales in comparison to the exceedingly large quantities of methamphetamine that’s involved in this case.”
Investigators have thus far kept the details of the investigation close to the vest. An affidavit filed in support of the charge says only that, as part of a joint investigation by Wyoming DCI agents and their counterparts in Montana, Feketi “was identified and investigated as a suspected distributor of methamphetamine, operating within the State of Wyoming.”
More details were apparently provided to a judge, who issued a search warrant for Feketi’s residence. DCI agents, Cody police and Park County sheriff’s deputies arrived to serve the warrant Thursday evening. When Feketi failed to answer the door, the officers reportedly entered the home and detained him near the master bedroom.
“During questioning Feketi advised agents that a large quantity of methamphetamine would be located in his residence,” Harnisch wrote. The suspect reportedly directed the officers to a black case in his bedroom that held approximately 1 pound of apparent meth. With going prices around $100 per gram, the street value of the meth would be in the neighborhood of $45,000.
Feketi wasn’t seen in court on Friday, so Darrah set his bond at $100,000 cash over the weekend. Hatfield sought to keep the figure there on Monday, citing the large amount of drugs seized and Feketi’s prior history; the prosecutor is seeking an enhanced sentence — up to 40 years in prison — because Feketi was convicted of possession with intent to deliver in California more than three decades ago.
That conviction came in 1991, while Feketi’s only other conviction — for possessing marijuana in Park County — was in 2001, said his defense attorney, Tim Blatt.
“He hasn’t been on the radar,” Blatt said, though, “obviously, he’s on the radar now with law enforcement.”
Blatt made the comments after Darrah asked him to explain how a $50,000 cash or surety bond for Feketi would address public safety.
“I understand that [it’s] only an allegation and he’s presumed innocent, but … with that quantity of methamphetamine, I have a huge public safety concern,” Darrah said, adding of the case that “there’s got to be more layers to this onion.”
Blatt responded that Feketi has “a substantial reason to stay out of trouble” while out on bond and that he wants to get back to his job at a Cody retailer.
Earlier, the attorney said that Feketi has lived in Cody for more than 30 years, held long-term, stable jobs, owns a home and has a family in the community. Blatt suggested a GPS ankle monitor could help alleviate the concerns.
Hatfield countered that ankle monitors “are useless in case like this,” in part because Feketi could cut off the device and flee.
Darrah ultimately split the difference and set bond at the $75,000 cash or surety figure, requiring Feketi to wear an ankle monitor if he makes bail.
A preliminary hearing in the case — to determine whether there’s enough evidence for the case to proceed toward a trial in district court — is tentatively set for July 6.
