Joel Zamora, Meth Trafficking, Montana 2022

Billings, MT - Joel Zamora, 40, of Billings, was arraigned in federal court on 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 crime.

Zamora pleaded not guilty on April 19. If convicted of the most serious crime, he faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release on the drug counts and a mandatory minimum 5 years to life consecutive to any other crime, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release on the firearms count.

Zamora was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI Transnational Organized Crime West Task Force and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigated the case.

PACER case reference: 21-22.

Zamora is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court's calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/Publi.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/informational-federal-court-arraignments-120