Billings Meth Dealer Hickel Gets 70 Months

BILLINGS, MT – Stefan Shane Hickel, 34, of Billings, is headed to federal prison for 70 months after admitting to trafficking methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced the sentence today, stemming from an arrest in Rosebud County. Hickel will also face four years of supervised release following his incarceration.

Hickel pleaded guilty on August 11, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case, presided over by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, reveals a pattern of drug activity and evasion of the law. Hickel wasn’t just a user; he was actively pushing poison onto the streets while already on the run from previous charges.

Court documents detail how a Billings drug task force began investigating Hickel in September 2021. He had already skipped out on state supervision related to a prior distribution charge, making him a priority target. Information led law enforcement to a motel in Forsyth, where officers executed a search warrant. Inside, they found Hickel along with a stash of meth and the tools of his illegal trade – drug paraphernalia.

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, paints a clear picture of a repeat offender. Hickel freely admitted to both using and distributing methamphetamine, confirming his role as a key player in the local drug pipeline. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey successfully prosecuted the case, securing a significant sentence.

This prosecution falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative designed to bring law enforcement and communities together to combat violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, focusing on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing enforcement, and measuring results. Hickel’s case serves as a direct example of PSN’s aims in action.

The 70-month sentence sends a message: trafficking methamphetamine in Montana carries serious consequences. While incarceration won’t erase the damage already done, it removes a dangerous individual from the streets and provides a measure of justice for the communities impacted by his crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in the region.