A Billings man was sentenced on Aug. 3 to three years in prison and four years of supervised release for attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Jonathan Lloyd Erwin, 38, pleaded guilty in February 2026 before U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer. According to court documents, Erwin received at least one package of methamphetamine through the mail that he intended to sell. The investigation began after Erwin’s wife contacted the U.S. Postal Service in February 2025 and reported that her husband was receiving packages containing drugs.
Postal officials monitored deliveries addressed to Erwin and intercepted a suspicious parcel on March 11, 2025, which had been sent from a fake address. After obtaining a warrant, agents searched the package and found 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine inside. They replaced the drugs with rock salt and delivered the altered package to Erwin, who brought it into his garage. Authorities later returned with a warrant and discovered the package hidden in his garage rafters.
During the search, Erwin’s wife again told agents that her husband was receiving drugs by mail. A review of Erwin’s phone revealed messages discussing buying meth off the dark web, tracking shipped packages, and selling what he purchased.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey prosecuted the case while investigations were conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana is part of the Department of Justice and operates offices in Billings as well as Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula; its mission includes protecting citizens through ethical enforcement of federal laws such as those related to violent crime or drug offenses, according to the official website.