A Billings man, Cody Lloyd Smith, 42, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a one-day trial. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2026. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the trial and will determine the final sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents and statements during the trial, Smith was driving with three others in Carbon County, Montana on December 8, 2023. He was stopped by a Carbon County Sheriff’s deputy for driving at 91 mph in a 65-mph zone. The deputy suspected that Smith might be under the influence and used his trained K-9 to inspect the vehicle. The dog indicated the presence of contraband, leading the deputy to seize the car and conduct a search on December 9, 2023.
During this search, law enforcement recovered several items including a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction in Nevada in 2016 for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case with investigative support from both the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Kurt G. Alme said.”
