Press Release
Meth Dealer Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana
BILLINGS - The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Renae Dawn Bighorn was sentenced to 60 months in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided over the hearing.
Bighorn previously entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In April 2015, law enforcement officers working for a Billings area drug task force became aware that Bighorn was dealing methamphetamine and other substances in Billings and the Bakken area of North Dakota. An undercover agent contacted Bighorn to discuss the purchase of narcotics and Bighorn agreed to sell the agent one ounce of methamphetamine. Two days later, Bighorn sold methamphetamine to the undercover agent as previously agreed. Forensic testing revealed that Bighorn sold 26 grams of pure methamphetamine to law enforcement.
Judge Watters sentenced Bighorn to 60 months in federal prison, with four years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, Bighorn will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Bighorn does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior. However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The case was investigated by the Billings Police Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and other federal, state, and local agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to identify those responsible for significant violent crime in Montana. A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a recently reinvigorated Department of Justice program that has proven to be successful in reducing violent crime. Today’s sentencing is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Contact
KERI LEGGETT
Acting Public Information Officer
(406) 761-7715
Updated January 4, 2018
Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods