California Man Charged With Drug Felonies

Don Fred Baldwin, 47, of Merced, Calif., is facing federal drug-related charges after an investigation into alleged drug activity in Brockton in November 2019. He appeared in Great Falls before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth, use of communications facility in causing and facilitating the commission of felonies.

According to court documents, Baldwin allegedly distributed methamphetamine in November 2019, with a second count of the indictment occurring Nov. 7.

Baldwin was detained pending further proceedings. According to court documents, potential penalties could be enhanced due to prior drug-related felony charges.

If convicted of the most serious crime, Baldwin faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Merced Police Department and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice investigated the case.