A man from Billings, Montana has admitted guilt to charges related to drug possession, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. The individual, identified as 40-year-old Dustin James Massey, entered a guilty plea to the charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Massey could face a mandatory minimum prison sentence ranging from ten years to life, a financial penalty of up to $10 million, and a minimum of five years of supervised release. The sentencing will be decided by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters after evaluating the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations. The sentencing has been scheduled for August 1, 2025, and Massey is being held until then.
Court documents indicated that on September 20, 2023, agents from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation were informed that Massey was dealing drugs in Billings and was in possession of firearms. It was revealed that Massey was already on federal supervision for a previous conviction involving methamphetamine distribution.
On September 21, 2023, probation officers and agents from the Montana DCI attempted to search Massey's residence. Massey, however, did not respond to law enforcement's presence at his door, leading officers to forcibly enter. In the ensuing confrontation, Massey fired at the officers, prompting them to return fire and ultimately disarm him. Officers identified the weapon he used as a Sig Sauer with an extended magazine.
Following a search authorized by a warrant, agents found approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, over 12,000 fentanyl pills, and 49.4 grams of cocaine. Additionally, three firearms were discovered at the scene: a Sig Sauer model P320, a Taurus model G3 pistol, and a North American Arms revolver.
The case, handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, involved investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that aims to decrease violent crime and gun violence by collaborating with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. The initiative, emphasized through a strategy launched by the Department of Justice on May 26, 2021, seeks to build trust within communities, support violence prevention efforts, establish targeted enforcement priorities, and assess outcomes. Further information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.