Bozeman woman pleads guilty to drug charges

BILLINGS - A Bozeman woman who was dealing methamphetamine admitted to charges Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.

Raven Renay Thompson, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Thompson faces 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Lane presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Dec. 9,2026. Thompson remained in custody pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Thompson was dealing meth for Chad Bachmann, who was sentenced in July 2026 to more than 18 years in prison for drug trafficking.

Bachmann was trafficking "large amounts" of meth from Washington, Oregon, and California into Montana and admitted to taking multiple trips to meet with suppliers there. In 2025, Bachmann provided a significant amount of this meth to Thompson and her codefendant Dakota Towner to sell to users in the Bozeman area. Towner pleaded guilty to meth possession charges in June and will be sentenced in October.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation.