Billings meth trafficker sentenced to 15 years in prison

BILLINGS—A Billings man convicted in a drug investigation in which agents found six pounds of methamphetamine and guns in a motel room was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Dameon Pierre Beasley, 41, pleaded guilty in November to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The prosecution said in court records that Drug Enforcement Administration agents went to a Billings motel in July 2018 where they had observed a man and a woman known to be involved in drug trafficking enter the building. Agents knocked on the door of the suspects’ room. The man consented to a search, and agents found drug paraphernalia. The woman volunteered that they had returned from Missoula where they had been helping Beasley transport drugs.

Beasley also was staying at the motel. Agents went to his room, and co-defendant Jessica Lynn Denny, answered the door. While speaking to Denny, agents witnessed movement behind her and secured the room. Agents found Beasley and another co-defendant, David Lopez, in the room. A firearm was on a table. Agents executed a search warrant on the room and found six pounds of meth, two handguns and $11,190 in currency. Six pounds of meth is the equivalent of about 21,744 doses.

Beasley admitted he was selling meth and distributing to Denny and Lopez and that Lopez had brought one of the guns to trade it to him for meth. Text messages on phones seized from Denny and Beasley indicated that Denny had brokered the gun trade and that she and Lopez were completing the firearm for meth deal when agents entered the room. Denny pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to six years in prison. Lopez has pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Billings Police Department.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.