Billings Woman Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Nearly 4 Pounds of Methamphetamine

BILLINGS, MT — A Billings woman pleaded guilty Monday to methamphetamine trafficking charges after law enforcement discovered nearly 4 pounds of pure methamphetamine in her vehicle during a traffic stop — enough for up to 170,000 individual doses.

Raven Michelle Volkomener, 43, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in federal court in Great Falls. She faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release.

The massive drug seizure began with reports of erratic driving on Highway 87 south of Billings on May 4, 2024. Montana Highway Patrol identified Volkomener’s vehicle approximately five miles from Billings, observed a traffic infraction, and conducted a traffic stop.

When officers asked Volkomener to step out of the vehicle, they discovered she had an outstanding felony arrest warrant and took her into custody. A subsequent search of her vehicle, conducted with a warrant, revealed four packages of suspected methamphetamine in a backpack located in the back seat.

Laboratory analysis confirmed the packages contained more than 1,700 grams of pure methamphetamine — equivalent to approximately 3.75 pounds of the drug. Based on typical dosing, the seizure represents between 68,000 and 170,000 individual doses.

Law enforcement also obtained a search warrant for Volkomener’s cell phone, which revealed text messages dating from February 2023 to May 2024 between Volkomener and a co-defendant. The messages discussed a trip by Volkomener to Great Falls in May 2024 to collect methamphetamine.

“This case demonstrates the significant impact that multi-agency cooperation can have in combating drug trafficking operations,” said U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme in the press release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris will determine Volkomener’s sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2025. Volkomener remains in custody pending the hearing.

The investigation was conducted by Montana Highway Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. The operation coordinates resources from the department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case.