⏱ 2 min read
Satchel Vernard McDonald, a 29-year-old from Billings, Montana, was dealing cocaine from a strip mall parking lot, armed with a handgun. The crimes took place over six months, starting in mid-2023, and ended with his arrest on January 6, 2024. McDonald’s operation was uncovered after a local business on Central Avenue reported suspicious activity to the Billings Police Department on December 28, 2023.
McDonald’s modus operandi was to meet buyers in his Ford Mustang, which was registered to him, and conduct transactions in the parking lot. However, his scheme was foiled when Montana Highway Patrol pulled him over for speeding, and he admitted to having cocaine and a handgun in his car.
Further investigation led to a search of McDonald’s residence, where law enforcement found a large quantity of cash, firearms, and nearly a pound of cocaine. The seizure included $27,877 in cash, a Rolex, an assault-style rifle, a shotgun, and an additional handgun.
McDonald pleaded guilty in February 2026 and was sentenced to 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentences will run consecutively, resulting in a total of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Montana
- Location: MT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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