Billings man sentenced to almost 5 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine

BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Ryder Lyle Allard, 37, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that beginning in at least March of 2022 and continuing until in or about October of 2022, at Billings and elsewhere, Allard distributed methamphetamine, which was corroborated by controlled purchases by undercover law enforcement officers and confidential sources in 2022.

On September 13, 2022, law enforcement executed a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Allard. The transaction, which was audio-recorded, involved two undercover officers meeting with Allard in a vehicle at a gas station in Billings. During the meeting, Allard sold the undercover officers roughly 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine for $1,365.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the DEA.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.