Billings, MT – In a chilling blow to the illegal drug trade in Billings, Julia Renee Arvizo, 47, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for her role in distributing methamphetamine. The sentence also includes a five-year term of supervised release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Arvizo pleaded guilty in January 2025 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters oversaw the sentencing hearing.
According to court documents, the DEA began investigating Arvizo and other meth dealers in Billings as early as September 2023. The investigation revealed that Arvizo used her connections to trade meth for firearms. One co-defendant estimated she distributed between a quarter and half a pound of meth daily.
During the DEA’s probe, confidential sources purchased nearly a pound and a half of pure meth from Arvizo in September and October 2023. In November 2023, Arvizo assured one source that providing three pounds of meth at once was no problem.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case, with the DEA leading the investigation. This conviction is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities like Billings.
Project Safe Neighborhoods was strengthened on May 26, 2021, with a focus on fostering community trust, supporting prevention efforts, strategic enforcement, and measuring outcomes. For more information on PSN, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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