The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on May 23, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:

JOSHUA JACOB BEST, age 25, RAYMOND EUGENE BEST, age 28, residents of Billings, each appeared on the following charges: (1) count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine, (2) counts of possession with the intent to distribute/distribution of methamphetamine, (2) counts of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute cocaine/cocaine base, (4) counts of possession with the intent to distribute/distribution of cocaine/cocaine base, and (2) counts of use or possession of firearms during and in relation to or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They are currently detained. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $10,000,000 fine and at least 5 years supervised release on the drug charges. In addition, they each face an additional mandatory 5 year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for the use or possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime or in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime on the first charge and an additional mandatory 25 years to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, on the second charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

ALAN HANSON, a 31-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of (2) counts of possession with the intent to distribute/distribution of cocaine, (2) counts of possession with the intent to distribute/distribution of "crack" cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of stolen firearms. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, HANSON faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and at least 4 years supervised release. In addition, HANSON faces an additional mandatory 5 year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

JOSE LUIS CANO, a 33-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and (2) counts of possession with the intent to distribute/distribution of methamphetamine. He is currently detained. If convicted of these charges, CANO faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $10,000,000 fine and at least 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

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