GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – A California man admitted to a felony in U.S. District Court last week after investigators found nearly two pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a peanut butter jar and a piñata that were headed for the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, according to a press release.
Don Fred Baldwin, 47, of Merced, California, pleaded guilty to distribution of meth. He faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
Court documents state that Baldwin mailed a package on November 7th, 2019 from California to Brockton, Montana. Law enforcement intercepted the package, obtained a search warrant and found meth hidden inside a jar of peanut butter and a piñata.
The amount of meth totaled about 776 grams, which is equivalent to approximately 6,208 doses.
When interviewed, Baldwin told authorities he mailed the meth. He later clarified that he provided the meth to another person who mailed it to Brockton.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Fort Peck Tribal Criminal Investigators and the Merced Police Department
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided and set sentencing for September 17th. Baldwin was detained pending further proceedings.
