Billings Man Convicted For Illegal Firearm Possession After Traffic Stop

A Billings man was found guilty Monday in federal court of illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, 42-year-old Cody Lloyd Smith was convicted following a one-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. Smith was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Judge Watters will determine Smith’s sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026.

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The incident unfolded in December 2023.

Court records show the case stemmed from a traffic stop in Carbon County in December 2023. Prosecutors said Smith was driving with three other people on December 8 when a Carbon County Sheriff’s deputy clocked the vehicle traveling 91 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone.

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During the stop, the deputy suspected Smith may have been impaired and later deployed a trained K-9 around the vehicle. The dog alerted to the presence of drugs, leading deputies to seize the vehicle and conduct a search the following day, December 9.

During that search, law enforcement recovered several items, including a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Smith is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction in Nevada in 2016 for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.