`Doughboy’ Figure Points Finger At Six Montana Men

Six Montana men face federal drug indictments as an outgrowth of Spokane’s “Operation Doughboy” cocaine investigation.

The arrests came about after Clarence “Cip” Paulsen III, a main figure in the Spokane investigation, pleaded guilty in November to federal drug charges.

As part of his plea agreement, Paulsen agreed to identify people who had bought cocaine from him, court document say.

That information led officers of the Spokane Regional Drug Task Force and FBI agents to Missoula.

A federal indictment returned last week in Helena names Charles L. McCormick, 48; Jerry L. Jordan, 44; Kenneth W. Nelson, 52; John H. Doyle Jr., 51; Michael J. Cote, 42, and Charles D. Clegg, 44, all of Missoula.

All are charged with conspiracy and distribution or possession with intent to distribute cocaine, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris McLean. Jordan also is charged with possessing a firearm during a drug transaction.

Court documents say Paulsen confessed to delivering 10 kilograms to McCormick between late 1992 and January 1994.

Paulsen was buying a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine, usually for $20,000 to $25,000 from contacts in the Tri-Cities, according to court documents and testimony. He would double his money by selling kilos to McCormick for as much as $41,000, the documents say.

Paulsen faces sentencing Feb. 10 in Spokane for his ringleader role in the conspiracy.