Billings man pleads guilty to drug charges

BILLINGS - A Billings man who trafficked significant amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

The defendant, Raymond Eugene Best, Jr., 44, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Best faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for September 24, 2026. Best remained detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that beginning in approximately 2023, law enforcement began investigating a drug trafficking ring based out of Mexico that was sourcing illegal narcotics to Wyoming, South Dakota, California, Montana, including Billings, and elsewhere. The group, including Best, was distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.

On June 12, 2023, the Billings Police Department received information from a criminal informant that Ray Best is the "main man" in Billings, bringing in 50-100 pounds of meth and tens of thousands of "blues." Ray Best was described as a non-user, but a dealer who stores drugs at other people's houses. An individual was contacted and provided additional insight about Best's dealing in Billings.

On June 26, 2023, Billings Police Department determined an apartment belonging to a co-defendant was used for storing drugs for Best. A state search warrant was executed and officers located 7 grams of fentanyl pills and 16.7 grams of meth in a back bedroom.

On August 2, 2023, law enforcement officers served a search warrant on a co-conspirator's hotel room in Billings. Approximately 2.77 pounds of methamphetamine were seized. Law enforcement determined the original amount was 8 pounds, but most had been distributed to other people. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at a different co-conspirator's house and seized eight more ounces of meth. Best and a co-defendant, who were in Mexico at the time, coordinated the re-distribution of the original 8-pound quantity. Phone messages and other electronic communications showed Best's continued involvement in the distribution of meth and cocaine in 2023. Messages were also being sent by a co-defendant who was with Best and using the same Facebook account, including: "Are you ready for another pound yet?" and "Cause you almost paid off."

Best was previously convicted of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the District of Montana in 2012, when he was sentenced to prison for over 13 years. Best was still on federal supervised release when he committed these new crimes.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case. The DEA, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.

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