2 Billings men plead guilty to meth trafficking charges

BILLINGS - Two men from Billings who trafficked methamphetamine around town have admitted to charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.

Rafael Gonzales Montanez, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine earlier this month. Montanez faces 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release.

Aaron Wade Montoya, 60, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Montoya faces 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, at least five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for the first count. He faces five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release for the second count.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for a later date. Montanez and Montoya remained detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Montanez and Montoya were dealing methamphetamine at various bars and casinos around Billings.

An agent with the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation received a tip in August 2024 that Montanez was selling methamphetamine in Billings and was often at the Reno Club. The agent, working undercover, was put in touch with Montanez, who called the agent offering to sell him an ounce of methamphetamine. The two men eventually met and over the next month the agent continued to buy increasing amounts of methamphetamine from Montanez.

After a buy in September 2024, law enforcement followed Montanez to a trailer in the Cherry Creek mobile home park in the Billings Heights, which they learned belonged to Montoya, who was on probation from an earlier drug conviction. At his probation-mandated urine test in November 2024, Montoya tested positive for methamphetamine and law enforcement received a warrant to search his home at Cherry Creek. Officers found a bag of bulk methamphetamine, three firearms, ammunition, and cash. Agents arrested him and in a subsequent interview Montoya admitted to dealing methamphetamine and that he got two of his firearms in a drug trade.

Meanwhile, Montanez reached out to the undercover DCI agent and wanted to introduce him to his new supplier because his old one had been arrested. On May 29, 2025, ATF agents arrested Montanez, who admitted he had sold methamphetamine that had been supplied to him by Montoya.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.