Billings man admits trafficking methamphetamine

BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to trafficking methamphetamine after law  enforcement seized approximately four pounds of the drug from a workshop, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Gary Michael Byrd, 52, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Byrd faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Byrd was released pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that early this year, the Billings Police Department received information that Byrd was trafficking meth from his residence. Law enforcement pulled over Byrd and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. During a search, officers found more than $5,600 cash in his pocket. Officers also executed a search warrant at a workshop where Byrd was suspected of storing drugs and recovered approximately four pounds of meth from a toolbox. Four pounds of meth is the equivalent of 14,496 doses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove is prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration 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.

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