Gregg Allen Johnson, Meth Trafficking, Montana 2020

BILLINGS – A fake methamphetamine deal gone wrong ended in a shootout, leaving a Billings man to face the consequences.

Gregg Allen Johnson, 42, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison and to five years of supervised release for his role in the scheme.

Johnson pleaded guilty on October 29, 2020, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the case.

According to court documents, Johnson introduced co-defendant James Higgins to another individual in the parking lot of a Walmart in Billings on June 3, 2019, to facilitate a large quantity of meth purchase. Higgins paid $3,000 for the package, which was later revealed to be a brick of rock salt.

When Higgins realized he had been cheated, he, a friend, and Johnson went to the individual's residence to recover his money. Higgins, Johnson, and the friend were all armed, but Higgins did not brandish or fire his firearm. The friend, however, fired his pistol into the home, and Johnson also admitted to firing his weapon.

Johnson was detained and is awaiting further processing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Johnson's case is part of Project Guardian, an initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, an initiative to reduce violent crime. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses, and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/billings-drug-trafficker-involved-fake-meth-deal-shootout-sentenced-more-seven-years