Jardan Donaldson, a 34-year-old resident of Mount Clemens, Michigan, has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in West Virginia and Montana. He admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in Charleston, West Virginia, and possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine in Montana.
According to court information, officers executed a search warrant on February 4, 2024, at a residence in Charleston, seizing approximately 14.1 pounds of methamphetamine. Donaldson confessed his intention to aid in the distribution of this methamphetamine and additional quantities of fentanyl and metonitazene, a synthetic opioid, within the Southern District of West Virginia. He also acknowledged participating in the preparation of methamphetamine for distribution a day before the search.
On July 24, 2024, Donaldson was found during a traffic stop in McCone County, Montana, hiding atop multiple bags of methamphetamine in a vehicle. Following his arrest under a West Virginia-issued warrant, the authorities secured approximately 6.9 pounds of methamphetamine from the vehicle. Donaldson agreed to resolve the Montana charges in West Virginia as part of his guilty plea.
His sentencing is slated for August 4, 2025, with a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a supervised release term of at least five years, and a fine of up to $10 million.
Justin Saunders, 28, co-defendant and resident of Charleston, also pleaded guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He admitted to selling about 896 grams to a confidential source at the same Charleston residence. Saunders is to be sentenced on June 9, 2025.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commended the collaboration of multiple agencies in this case, including the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), Montana Highway Patrol, and the FBI. MDENT comprises several local law enforcement agencies.
Presiding over the hearing was United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston. Prosecuting the case are Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel D. Marsh and Kelsey A. Sabol.
Further information is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia and through PACER with specified case numbers.
