BILLINGS, MT – Federal indictments and criminal complaints are piling up in Montana courts, revealing a grim undercurrent of drug trafficking, violent offenses, and illegal firearm possession. This week saw several individuals arraigned, facing decades behind bars if convicted.
Jamesey Maria Jefferson, 32, of Busby, appeared in Billings on November 3rd, pleading not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Jefferson allegedly participated in a meth distribution network. If found guilty on the most serious charge, she faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine, and at least four years of supervised release on the drug counts. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Jefferson is currently detained.
Also in Billings, Jordan Joseph Backer, 26, of Lame Deer, appeared on November 2nd, facing harrowing charges of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The FBI is investigating this case. A conviction on the most serious count could land Backer a mandatory minimum of 30 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years to life of supervised release. Backer, like Jefferson, remains detained pending further proceedings.
Moving to Missoula, Chance Allen Chambers, 24, of Butte, was arraigned on November 3rd before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto. He pleaded not guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The ATF, along with the Butte Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole, investigated this case. Chambers faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release if convicted. He was released pending further proceedings.
James Allyn Batterton, 24, of Missoula, also appeared in Missoula on November 3rd, entering a not guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force led the investigation. If convicted on the conspiracy charge, Batterton faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years to life, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Batterton was released pending further proceedings.
These cases, tracked through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system (pacer.gov/register.html), demonstrate the ongoing battle against criminal activity in Montana. The District Court’s calendar is accessible at ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl. Grimy Times will continue to monitor these and other federal cases as they progress through the legal system.
Related Federal Cases
- Ocegueda-Ruiz, Meth Kingpin Convicted, Montana, 2023 · California
- Christopher Buchholz, Meth Conspiracy, WY 2023 · New York
- Meth Trafficking Indictments, Montana 2024 · California
- Bret Russell Hamlin, Meth Trafficking, Montana 2023 · Texas
- Joseph Allen Conner, Fentanyl Conspiracy, Montana 2024 · Montana
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News