A Billings woman, Anita Mae Ballesteros, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine. This will be followed by five years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Ballesteros, aged 36, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth. The sentencing was overseen by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters.
The Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a group of meth traffickers in the Billings area in September 2023. Ballesteros was one of seven defendants involved in a multi-state drug trafficking operation that used a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings as a base. The group reportedly received pounds of meth from Washington sources, which Ballesteros and a co-defendant distributed through their network.
Ballesteros was identified as the primary distributor for the Washington group's meth, selling it in ounce and half-pound quantities. She also supplied firearms to her Washington contacts. A co-defendant described her as having enough meth to "keep Billings awake."
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with an investigation conducted by the DEA.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating results.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.