Wyoming man sentenced to over 9 years in prison for drug and gun charges

BILLINGS - A Wyoming man with prior felony convictions who was found in possession of drugs and guns on two separate occasions was sentenced today to 118 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Kristofer Mikal Wright, 38, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on March 20, 2024, Wright had an active warrant for his arrest by Wyoming probation. He was also being investigated for distributing drugs. He was located by the U.S. Marshals Service in Billings and arrested. Wright had been surveilled driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee to a storage unit, so law enforcement searched the vehicle and seized two loaded firearms, ammunition, and 35.2 grams of methamphetamine.

About two months later, on May 31, 2024, Wright was again in Billings with an active warrant for his arrest on his Wyoming case. Law enforcement saw him in the Jeep at a local motel and watched him as he drove around Billings. He parked at a residence and the U.S. Marshals prepared to effect an arrest, but Wright came out of the house and got back in his Jeep. The officers tried to pin Wright's vehicle to prevent him from leaving but he ignored their commands, started the car, and tried to escape by ramming a broken-down van parked in front of him on the street. He also tried to back into a marked police vehicle. Law enforcement ultimately fired non-lethal, bean bag, shotgun rounds to break Wright's windows and get him to surrender.

When officers subsequently searched Wright's Jeep, they found two firearms, ammunition, 253.7 grams of actual methamphetamine, and 90.8 grams of fentanyl.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.