Montana Man Charged with Distributing 45 Pounds of Meth from Mother's Basement

Authorities allege Lane Demarais stored and sold large quantities of drugs from his mother's home in Laurel.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A 45-year-old Billings man named Lane Demarais has been charged in federal court with possession with intent to distribute approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine that was allegedly stored in the basement of his 78-year-old mother's home in Laurel, Montana. Demarais faces a minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

Why it matters

The case highlights the growing problem of drug trafficking and distribution in Montana, especially the use of private residences to store and sell large quantities of illegal narcotics. It also raises questions about the role of family members who may be unaware of criminal activities taking place in their homes.

The details

According to court documents, federal agents and local law enforcement searched Demarais' home, a storage facility, and his mother's home in Laurel. In the basement of his mother's home, they found a small room with a safe containing 45 individual packages of meth, each weighing about a pound. Agents also seized several firearms, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and over $31,000 in cash. Demarais' mother told agents that he had access to her home and she was unaware of the safe.

  • Demarais was arrested on February 5, 2026.
  • Agents were tipped off to Demarais' alleged drug dealing activities in the fall of 2025.

The players

Lane Demarais

A 45-year-old Billings man charged with possession with intent to distribute approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine.

Kurt Alme

The U.S. Attorney who announced the charges against Demarais.

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What they’re saying

“Demarais faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison with a maximum of life, fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release if convicted of the charge of possession with intent to distribute.”

— Kurt Alme, U.S. Attorney (kpax.com)

What’s next

Demarais is being detained in the Yellowstone County jail pending his next court hearing later this month, where a judge will decide whether to grant him bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of combating drug trafficking and distribution in Montana, where traffickers are increasingly using private residences to store and sell large quantities of illegal narcotics. It also raises concerns about the potential complicity or willful ignorance of family members who may be unaware of criminal activities taking place in their homes.