Djavon Lamont King, Cocaine and Ecstasy Trafficking, Montana 2021

A Billings man has been sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his role in trafficking cocaine and ecstasy, as well as brandishing a firearm in relation to the crimes.

BILLINGS — Djavon Lamont King, 31, pleaded guilty in February 2021 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and ecstasy and to possession of and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the case.

According to court documents, King and co-defendant Mario Drake conspired to distribute illegal narcotics, including cocaine and ecstasy, in 2019. On April 24, 2019, two individuals attempted to distribute some of the ecstasy related to the conspiracy at a motel in Billings. However, a struggle ensued, and the buyer assaulted one of the individuals and left the scene.

Following this incident, the individual informed King and Drake about what had occurred at the motel. In response, on April 29, 2019, King, Drake, and others, arranged a meeting with the buyer, during which they assaulted the buyer while holding firearms.

King and others later informed the two individuals who had gone to the drug deal that they retaliated against the buyer in response to the failed drug deal.

Drake has pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Benjamin D. Hargrove, prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. initiative to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

In court, King admitted to his role in the conspiracy and accepted responsibility for his actions. He was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

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