Billings Woman Admits to Meth Trafficking Charges

Like so many communities across Montana, Billings continues to battle the devastating impact of drugs, especially methamphetamine. Even though drugs are a real challenge here, it helps to know that law enforcement is working hard to get them off the streets and keep our families safe.

Billings Woman Pleads Guilty, Faces Lengthy Prison Term and Hefty Fine

This week, 43-year-old Raven Michelle Volkomener of Billings admitted to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She now faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison, a possible life sentence, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release.

READ MORE: At Home Store Officially Closes in Billings

Judge to Decide Sentence at December 2025 Hearing

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case and will determine the final sentence after weighing sentencing guidelines and statutory factors. Volkomener remains in custody while awaiting her December 17, 2025 sentencing date.

Erratic Driving Stop Leads to Arrest on Outstanding Warrant

The charges stem from an incident on May 4, 2024, when law enforcement received reports of a car driving erratically on Highway 87, south toward Billings. Montana Highway Patrol officers stopped the vehicle after noticing a traffic violation. Behind the wheel was Volkomener, who already had an outstanding felony warrant.

Traffic Stop Uncovers Over 1,700 Grams of Meth

A search of her vehicle revealed four packages of methamphetamine inside a backpack on the back seat. Testing later confirmed the meth weighed more than 1,700 grams of pure meth, an amount that could cause enormous harm if circulated in the community.

Phone Evidence Reveals Ongoing Role in Meth Trafficking Network

Investigators also examined Volkomener’s phone, uncovering months of text messages detailing her role in drug distribution. The messages, exchanged with a co-defendant, referenced trips to Great Falls to pick up methamphetamine, pointing to a broader drug network at work.

Federal and State Agencies Team Up to Tackle Meth in Billings

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus, with the Montana Highway Patrol, FBI, DEA, and the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations all contributing to the investigation. Their collaboration highlights just how seriously authorities are taking the fight against meth in Billings.

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Part of National Effort to Keep Drugs Out of Communities

This case falls under Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative aimed at dismantling cartels, eliminating transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime and drug trafficking. By combining resources, the program strengthens efforts to keep dangerous drugs like meth out of neighborhoods.