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Jury convicts man of federal drug trafficking, weapons charges in Billings

Posted at 10:28 AM, Dec 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-12 12:28:20-05

A man was convicted Tuesday on federal drug trafficking and gun charges after he was arrested in Billings with more than a pound of meth and loaded guns in his vehicle, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.

Julian Tyler Baughman, 36, was found guilty by a jury of three crimes: possesion with intent to distribute meth, a prohibited person in possession of a fireams and possesion of a firearm in a drug-trafficking crime.

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to a maximum of life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years supervised release on the drug charge. The enhanced weapons charges adds a mandatory minimum of five years consecutive, a $250,000 fine and five years supervised release.

Baughman was arrested April 10 in a Billings neighborhood after law enforcement received a tip, prosecutors said at the two-day trial.

He admitted to possessing a gun on him. Officers also found a meth pipe, two loaded semi-automatic pistols, ammunition and a envelope with 1.6 pounds of meth inside. The amount of meth is equivalent to 5,800 doses, according to Alme.

Baughman was convicted of multiple felonies in 2016 in Roosevelt County and was prohibited from possessing a gun.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. A sentencing date will be set later. Baughman is in jail.