Billings Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Operating Drug Distribution Ring

A man who trafficked a significant amount of methamphetamine in the Billings area was sentenced today to 144 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Mario Baudelio Nava, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on April 2, 2024, law enforcement officers received information from a confidential source regarding a female who was a source of supply for methamphetamine. The details provided by the confidential source were familiar to the officers, and they were aware from other investigations that Mario Nava just moved into the same residence. Surveillance was conducted on the residence and Nava was identified coming and going. Later on April 2, 2024, a female had contacted the confidential source and offered to meet and sell one ounce of methamphetamine for $350.00. Surveillance resumed on the residence and the female was observed walking from the residence to a prearranged meet location. Law enforcement contacted the female subject based on the belief she was in possession of methamphetamine. The female was then detained and admitted she was in possession of one ounce of meth. During an interview, the female subject said she received the ounce of meth from Mario Nava and she had sold approximately 9 to 10 ounces of methamphetamine for Nava over the last 12 months. She further advised she believed Nava was currently in possession of approximately one-half pound of methamphetamine. The female subject agreed to contact Nava for a ride and called him. Law enforcement followed Nava to the location of the original meet and took him into custody. Law enforcement searched Nava’s vehicle under the conditions of his parole. During the search, detectives located and seized approximately 1397.63 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a large amount of US currency, and a stolen 9mm handgun. Detectives then applied for and obtained a search warrant for Nava’s residence, where they located additional methamphetamine, US currency, and drug paraphernalia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Eastern Montana HIDTA conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Billings Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Operating Drug Distribution Ring

Premium Membership Required

Author

About gfgadmin

Welcome,

Premium Membership Required

Author

Related Posts

About gfgadmin