Jamie Lynn Strosky and Homar Renova-Castillo Plead Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on August 8, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, Jamie Lynn Strosky, a 33-year-old resident of Shepherd, and Homar Renova-Castillo, a 36-year-old resident of Tucson, Arizona, pled guilty.

Strosky pled to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

Renova-Castillo pled to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegal re-entry of a deported alien.

Sentencings have been set for December 9, 2012. They are currently detained.

In offers of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan P. McCarthy, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Renova-Castillo, an alien and citizen of Mexico, was previously convicted in 2000 in Yellowstone County for felony criminal endangerment. Renova-Castillo was then deported from the United States on January 31, 2002, and left through El Paso, Texas. Renova-Castillo was subsequently found in the United States. Specifically, on November 19, 2012, Renova-Castillo was pulled over in a motor vehicle near Park City by law enforcement.

In August 2012, agents with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (EMHIDTA) began investigating the sale of methamphetamine in Billings by Strosky and Renova-Castillo.

On August 22, 2012, agents spoke with an individual identified here as "D.N." D.N. stated that he had made two trips to Idaho with Renova-Castillo to pick up methamphetamine. D.N. estimated that they picked up two pounds of methamphetamine each time. D.N. said that a woman named Jamie was Renova-Castillo’s "right-hand girl."

On September 6, 2012, agents met with a confidential informant (CI) who provided information about Strosky. The CI stated that Strosky had been selling methamphetamine since 2000. The CI indicated that Strosky went to Idaho to obtain methamphetamine. The CI stated that Strosky got her methamphetamine from a Mexican male named Homar. The CI indicated that approximately two months prior, Strosky met with Renova-Castillo, and she was "fronted" one ounce of methamphetamine.

On November 6, 2012, the CI met Strosky at a residence in Billings. Strosky sold the CI a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine for $550. Strosky told the CI that she was paying $21,000 for one pound of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine was later tested at the DEA lab, and the actual weight was seven grams.

On November 8, 2012, the CI and Strosky met in a parking lot in Billings Heights, and the CI purchased methamphetamine from Strosky for $550. The methamphetamine was later tested at the DEA lab, and the actual weight was 6.7 grams.

On November 14, 2012, the CI met Strosky at Strosky’s residence in Shepherd. The CI purchased meth from Strosky for $550. The methamphetamine was later tested at the DEA lab, and the actual weight was 6.6 grams. Additionally, Strosky told the CI that she recently had one pound of methamphetamine stolen from a stash house.

On December 7, 2012, the CI made another purchase of methamphetamine from Strosky at a location in Billings. The methamphetamine was later tested at the DEA lab, and the actual weight was 6.8 grams.

On December 11, 2012, Strosky told the CI that she planned to re-up with "her guy" in the next few days.

On December 21, 2012, agents spoke with "K.V." K.V. admitted that she stole the pound of methamphetamine that Strosky kept at her "stash house". K.V. said that she was told by another individual that "K.S." was "babysitting" the methamphetamine at K.S.’s residence in the Billings Heights for Strosky. K.V. stated that around November 12, 2012, she and her boyfriend broke into K.S.’s residence and stole a safe from the closet in the bedroom. Inside the safe, K.V. found two bags of methamphetamine, $100 in cash, and two watches.

The CI made additional purchases of approximately a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine from Strosky on January 8, 22, and 29, 2013 and April 3, 2013.

On February 3, 2013, Renova-Castillo and his wife were stopped in a motor vehicle near Wickenburg, Arizona, and Renova-Castillo was subsequently arrested. In a statement provided to law enforcement, Renova-Castillo indicated that he has purchased drugs from his source in Las Vegas, Nevada. He admitted that on two occasions, he transported cocaine and methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Billings.

Strosky faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years’ supervised release on each charge.

Renova-Castillo faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of five years and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $5,000,000 fine, and four years’ supervised release on the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine charge; and possible penalties of two years, a $250,000 fine, and one year supervised release on the illegal reentry charge.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force.