The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 15, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, RAYMOND EUGENE BEST, a 29-year-old resident of Billings, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Sentencing has been set for December 15, 2011. He is currently detained.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Seykora stated that the government would have proved at trial the following:

Several witnesses would have testified that BEST received pound quantities of methamphetamine for redistribution from 2006 up to 2011. Also, during the period of time charged, BEST possessed at least one handgun in furtherance of the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Several witnesses would have testified that BEST possessed a firearm while possessing with intent to distribute or distributing methamphetamine in Billings.

BEST faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $20,000,000 fine and at least 10 years supervised release. In addition, BEST faces an additional mandatory five year imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

The investigation was conducted by the Billings Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force.

 

 

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