⏱ 2 min read
A Billings man’s attempt to buy a massive haul of methamphetamine has landed him in federal prison. Derrick Chandler Lucero, 48, tried to purchase 35 pounds of meth from a courier with ties to a Mexican drug operation at a Laurel truck stop in July 2025. The operation was intercepted by law enforcement, who swapped out most of the meth with ice melt as part of a controlled buy. Lucero was caught after he contacted the courier and arranged to meet at the TA Truck Stop in Laurel, where he was to collect the meth and pay $12,500.
The case against Lucero began in Omaha, Nebraska, where police and DEA agents stopped a suspected drug courier at a bus station. The courier agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and help deliver the meth as part of a controlled buy. Agents traveled with the courier to Billings, where they set up a sting operation to catch Lucero.
Lucero pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided over the case.
The sentence is a significant blow to methamphetamine trafficking in Montana. The state has struggled with a growing meth problem in recent years, with law enforcement agencies working to disrupt supply chains and prosecute those involved in the trade.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Montana
- Location: MT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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