Two men at the center of a Chicago-based oxycodone ring have admitted in Missoula federal court that they used fly-in crews with forged prescriptions to score painkillers from pharmacies across Montana, then funneled the pills back to ringleaders for distribution. Both defendants were released pending further proceedings and are set to learn their fate in November.
The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana, said in a press release that 23-year-old Jaylan Javier Wash pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Thirty-two-year-old Brandon Lavelle Winfrey, known as "Juice," pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
Each man faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2026, in Missoula before U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen.
How prosecutors say the scheme worked
According to court documents and reporting by NonStop Local Montana, Winfrey and Wash bankrolled groups of people to fly from Chicago to Montana and walk into pharmacies with falsified prescriptions for oxycodone and other controlled substances. Once the pills were filled, the associates handed everything over to the two men.
Prosecutors say Wash and Winfrey then directed distribution of the drugs outside Montana, using their network to move the oxycodone out of state.
Investigation and next steps
The FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Both men entered their guilty pleas this week in Missoula and were released while they await sentencing.
When the case returns to Missoula federal court on Nov. 10, 2026, Judge Christensen will consider the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors before imposing punishment. Actual sentences can come in below the maximums, depending on the guideline calculations and the specific facts of the case.
Charges and penalties
Wash admitted to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Winfrey admitted to possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Under federal law, each count carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and supervised-release terms that follow any prison sentence.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the investigation involved assistance from federal partners and local law enforcement, who helped unravel the prescription-fraud operation that stretched from Chicago into pharmacies across Montana.
