⏱ 2 min read
Joshua Mark Rideshorse, a 41-year-old Billings man, was dealing meth from his Alderson Avenue home when the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force caught wind of his operation in September 2024. Rideshorse was buying meth in Washington and selling it in Montana, raking in cash and amassing a stash of firearms, despite being a prohibited person due to a 2022 felony conviction. The task force, along with the U.S. Marshal Service Montana Violent Offender’s Task Force, arrested Rideshorse on October 16, 2024, and found 4 ounces of meth, a stolen Smith & Wesson handgun, and $9,783 in cash at his home.
Rideshorse pleaded guilty in February 2026 and was sentenced to 9 years and 5 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He also received a concurrent sentence of 9 years and 5 months, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a whole-of-government partnership aimed at eliminating transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watter presided over the case, which was a result of historic interagency collaboration between law enforcement agencies.
Rideshorse’s sentencing marks a significant blow to meth trafficking in Montana, where the drug has been a major concern for law enforcement. The case highlights the importance of cooperation between agencies and the need for continued efforts to combat the meth epidemic.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Montana
- Location: MT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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