BILLINGS – A grim reminder of the grip of drug violence struck Billings when Dustin James Massey, 40, was sentenced to a harsh 240-month term in federal prison for his role in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Massey’s reign of terror began on September 20, 2023, when law enforcement sources inside the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation received intel about Massey’s drug operations. The sources revealed that not only was Massey selling drugs in Billings but he also had a history with firearms due to a prior federal conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The following day, probation officers and agents attempted a search of Massey’s residence. When they arrived, Massey refused to answer the door, prompting law enforcement to breach it. In a harrowing exchange, Massey opened fire on officers, who returned fire, ultimately wounding him. After disarming Massey, they discovered a Sig Sauer with an extended magazine and later found approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, over 12,000 fentanyl pills, 49.4 grams of cocaine, and three firearms at the scene.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentence on Friday, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten leading the prosecution. The case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence across the nation. PSN, launched in May 2021, strengthens community trust and supports organizations aimed at preventing violence.
For more information on the PSN program, the public is encouraged to visit www.justice.gov/psn.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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