Major Meth Bust Leads to 5 Year Federal Prison Sentence for Billings Woman

A Billings woman received a five-year federal prison sentence for her role in a significant methamphetamine trafficking operation that funneled large quantities of drugs through the city. This case highlights the ongoing fight against narcotics distribution in Billings and the efforts of law enforcement to disrupt such networks.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, 37-year-old Stephanie Marie Nava was sentenced Wednesday to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the sentencing. Nava’s sentence underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating large-scale drug trafficking offenses.

Nava Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

Court records show Nava pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

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That plea followed a lengthy investigation involving multiple search warrants and seizures connected to both Billings' residences and hotel rooms. The investigation unfolded over many months, piecing together evidence from several locations and building the case against Nava and her associates.

Police Discover Narcotics in Apartment Raid

Investigators say the case began on June 26, 2023, when Billings Police determined an apartment belonging to Nava was being used to store drugs by her co-defendant.

When officers executed a state search warrant, Nava was present and told police she did not know what her co-defendant had stored in the apartment. During the search, officers found about seven grams of fentanyl pills and nearly 17 grams of methamphetamine in a back bedroom. This discovery marked the first concrete evidence linking Nava to the drug trafficking operation.

Billings Hotel Raid Uncovers Large Meth Shipment

The investigation then expanded to a hotel room in Billings, where officers executed another search warrant and seized approximately 2.77 pounds of methamphetamine.

Authorities later determined that the original amount was about 8 pounds, but a large portion had already been distributed to others before the search. This indicated the scale and speed at which the operation was moving drugs through Billings and beyond.

Authorities Seize More Meth at Second Location

Law enforcement also served a search warrant at a separate residence connected to the case, where they seized another eight ounces of meth.

According to court documents, both the original eight pounds and the redistributed amounts were coordinated by Nava and her co-defendant while they were in Mexico. Their involvement from outside the country demonstrates the reach and organization of the trafficking network.

Multiple Agencies Coordinate Investigation and Prosecution

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the Billings Police Department.

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Federal officials say the sentence reflects the scale of the drug trafficking involved and the coordination of distribution across multiple locations in the city. The case serves as a warning that law enforcement agencies at every level remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting large-scale narcotics operations.