A man from Billings, Montana was recently sentenced to a quarter-century in prison for his involvement in a large-scale drug and gun trafficking conspiracy linked to Mexican drug cartels. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stated that Roderick Plentyhawk was part of the drug trafficking operations based out of the Crow Indian Reservation.
According to Laslovich, "Plentyhawk was among the top drug dealers in this extensive drug conspiracy and worked with out-of-state traffickers in Washington with connections to one of Mexico’s cartels to bring this highly-addictive poison to two Montana Indian reservations and the Billings community". He further noted that "He dealt in large, pound quantities and carried guns for protection", adding that "He belongs in federal prison, which is exactly where he will be for the next quarter century". The U.S. Attorney expressed pride in the efforts of their team stating, "I am proud of the extraordinary work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners in pursuing and shutting down this far-ranging conspiracy."
As per a press release by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, Plentyhawk pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and prohibited person in possession of a firearm in September 2023. He was among approximately two dozen defendants charged as part of this conspiracy and played a significant role within the investigation.
The investigation unveiled that Plentyhawk would procure meth from locations within the Crow Reservation and then redistribute it within Northern Cheyenne and Billings communities. The release highlighted that Plentyhawk dealt with high volumes of methamphetamine and had direct involvement with many key players within the conspiracy, such as those who transported drugs from Washington to Montana. The proceeds generated from these drugs were sent back to Washington before eventually reaching Mexico.
The Billings Gazette reported that Plentyhawk's arrest followed a police chase while he was on parole for aggravated robbery. He had also been charged with assault with a weapon in 2017.
Laslovich assumed his role as the U.S. attorney for the District of Montana on June 2, 2022, according to the District of Montana's U.S. attorney's office. Prior to this, he served in the Montana Legislature from 2001 to 2010 and also acted as legal counsel on securities cases in Montana while serving as the regional vice president for SCL Health Montana-Wyoming.
