Missoula, Montana – Two western Montana men have been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to methamphetamine trafficking offenses connected to a larger drug operation that had been under investigation by Missoula area law enforcement since 2024.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith announced the sentences Wednesday for Michael James Storey, 57, of Hamilton, and Jade Taylor Budd, 31, of Frenchtown.
Storey was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Budd received a 10 year prison sentence and will also serve five years of supervised release after leaving prison.
Both men pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the cases.
Investigation uncovered meth trafficking in Missoula area
According to court documents, prosecutors alleged that Storey and Budd were independently bringing methamphetamine into the Missoula area and selling it. Although their activities were separate from one another, authorities said both men had connections to the same larger drug trafficking operation.
Missoula law enforcement began investigating that organization in 2024.
Storey’s involvement came under greater scrutiny following a traffic stop on February 6, 2025. During the stop, officers discovered 13 grams of methamphetamine inside his vehicle.
Investigators also examined Storey’s phone and found messages concerning plans for a trip to Spokane, Washington, with co defendant Jamie Maki. Authorities said the purpose of the trip was to obtain additional methamphetamine.
Storey told investigators that he and Maki had traveled to Spokane twice to purchase the drug. According to his account, they obtained half a pound of methamphetamine during their first trip and one pound during the second.
Storey also estimated that he had been selling between three and five ounces of methamphetamine each week.
Maki was arrested earlier in 2026 on drug trafficking charges.
Budd came to the attention of law enforcement several months earlier. On July 4, 2024, police responded to reports that people were using drugs in the parking lot of a Burger King in Missoula.
Officers stopped Budd at the location and searched his vehicle. Authorities said they discovered bags of methamphetamine that had already been packaged.
Investigators subsequently searched Budd’s phone. According to prosecutors, messages involving Budd and two other people indicated that he was trafficking methamphetamine and attempting to find customers for the drugs.
The two cases ultimately resulted in Storey and Budd entering guilty pleas to federal methamphetamine distribution offenses in May.
Their sentences differed, with Storey receiving seven years behind bars and Budd receiving 10 years. Both will remain under federal supervision for five years following their respective prison terms.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the cases, while the Missoula Drug Task Force handled the investigation into the trafficking activity.
