BILLINGS—A Billings man has admitted to his role in a meth trafficking conspiracy that brought the highly addictive substance from Denver, Colorado to the community.
Nathan Thomas Trujillo, 41, pleaded guilty on December 11 to 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.
According to court documents, Trujillo conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Billings area. In August, a drug task force began investigating Trujillo, who was using a stolen identity to avoid arrest on an outstanding warrant.
Agents conducted multiple drug buys with a co-conspirator and purchased a total of approximately 13 ounces of meth. They also learned that Trujillo traveled to Denver to obtain pound quantities of meth for re-distribution in the Billings area.
On August 31, Trujillo traveled to Denver, and on September 7, he returned to Montana. He was arrested by the Montana Highway Patrol at a gas station in Hardin.
Agents executed search warrants on Trujillo’s vehicle and apartment, seizing a total of approximately 429 grams of meth, or about 15 ounces, as well as a 9mm pistol, a digital scale, and plastic baggies. The amount of meth seized is equivalent to approximately 3,432 individual doses.
Trujillo faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and five years of supervised release on the drug counts. He also faces a minimum mandatory five years to life in prison consecutive to any other sentence on the firearms count.
Trujillo is being held in detention and is set to be sentenced on April 24, 2019.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime in communities by focusing enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partnering with locally-based prevention and reentry programs.
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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