Stefan Hickel, Meth Trafficking, Billings MT, 2023

BILLINGS, MT – Stefan Shane Hickel, 34, of Billings, Montana, is headed to federal prison for 70 months after admitting to running methamphetamine through Rosebud County. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters handed down the sentence Wednesday, adding four years of supervised release after Hickel serves his time.

The bust originated last September when a Billings-area drug task force zeroed in on Hickel as a suspected meth distributor. Hickel was already a wanted man, having skipped out on state supervision related to a previous distribution charge. Investigators learned he was holed up in a Forsyth motel, and a search warrant quickly turned up the heat.

Inside the motel room, officers found Hickel along with a stash of methamphetamine and the tools of his trade – drug paraphernalia used for packaging and distributing the deadly substance. Hickel didn’t deny his involvement; he confessed to both using and selling meth, admitting to a full-blown operation. He pleaded guilty August 11, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey, built a solid case with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The ATF’s involvement underscores the agency’s continued focus on disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics, even in rural areas like Montana.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich framed the sentencing as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broader initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. The program, recently bolstered by the Department of Justice, emphasizes community trust and strategic enforcement.

While 70 months won’t erase the damage Hickel inflicted on the community, it sends a clear message: trafficking methamphetamine in Montana carries serious consequences. The ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office vow to continue targeting those who profit from addiction and endanger public safety. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against the relentless tide of illegal drugs flooding the nation.

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