Billings, Montana – A Billings man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after admitting he attempted to possess methamphetamine that had been shipped through the mail with the intention of selling it.
Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith announced that Jonathan Lloyd Erwin, 38, received a sentence of three years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
Erwin previously pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case was heard by U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer.
Drug shipment uncovered after tip to postal officials
According to court documents, the investigation began after an unexpected tip from inside Erwin’s own household.
In February 2025, Erwin’s wife contacted the U.S. Postal Service, informing officials that her husband had been receiving packages containing illegal drugs through the mail.
Following that report, postal inspectors began monitoring mail addressed to Erwin.
On March 11, 2025, investigators identified a suspicious parcel sent to Erwin from what was later determined to be a fake return address. After obtaining a search warrant, agents opened the package and discovered approximately 7.5 ounces of methamphetamine inside.
Instead of immediately making an arrest, investigators removed the methamphetamine and replaced it with rock salt before carrying out a controlled delivery.
Authorities watched as Erwin accepted the package and brought it into his garage.
Investigators later returned with another search warrant and found the parcel hidden in the rafters of Erwin’s garage.
While officers carried out the search, Erwin’s wife again told investigators that her husband had been receiving drugs through the mail.
The investigation uncovered additional evidence after agents examined Erwin’s cellphone.
According to prosecutors, messages stored on the device showed Erwin discussing purchasing methamphetamine through the dark web, tracking shipments sent to him, and selling the drugs after receiving them.
That evidence became an important part of the federal case and ultimately led to Erwin’s guilty plea earlier this year.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Godfrey.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, whose coordinated work helped uncover the shipment, recover the drugs, and gather evidence documenting Erwin’s plans to distribute methamphetamine.
With sentencing now complete, Erwin will serve his three-year federal prison sentence before beginning a four-year period of supervised release under the conditions ordered by the court.
