Billings Man’s Truck Stop Meth Buy Was Actually A Massive Multi-State DEA Sting

A Billings man will spend more than 11 years behind bars after federal authorities caught him attempting to purchase a suitcase packed with methamphetamine at a truck stop in Laurel, Montana. The sentencing, handed down on June 12, 2026, marks the conclusion of a multistate undercover operation that began nearly a year earlier in Nebraska.

Derrick Chandler Lucero Sentenced in Montana Federal Court for Meth Trafficking

Derrick Chandler Lucero, 48, of Billings, was sentenced to 135 months (just over 11 years) in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided over the case, which was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana.

DEA Intercepts 35 Pounds of Methamphetamine in Omaha Bus Station Arrest

The case did not begin in Montana. On July 22, 2025, Omaha police officers and agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted a suspected drug courier at a bus station in Omaha, Nebraska. The courier was traveling from California to Montana and, when confronted by law enforcement, admitted he was carrying 35 pounds of methamphetamine in his bags.

Rather than face charges alone, the courier agreed to cooperate with investigators. He offered to help law enforcement conduct a controlled delivery, continuing his journey to Montana with the drugs to identify and arrest his contact at the destination.

Federal Undercover Operation Swaps Meth Bundles for Ice Melt Before Delivery

Federal agents accompanied the courier to Billings along with the 35 pounds of meth, which was tested to confirm it was genuine. To reduce risk while preserving the appearance of a legitimate drug shipment, investigators swapped out 34 of the 35 bundles, replacing them with white ice melt wrapped to match the original packages. One real bundle of methamphetamine remained in the suitcase.

Details of the Undercover Sting Operation at Laurel TA Truck Stop

In the early morning hours of July 23, 2025, agents and the courier finalized their delivery plan. The courier contacted his handlers in Mexico, who instructed him to call the buyer and arrange a location for the exchange. The handlers specified that the courier was to collect $12,500 for the drugs.

At 12:02 a.m., the buyer, later identified as Lucero, called the courier. He directed the courier to meet him at the TA Truck Stop in Laurel, Montana, and described his vehicle as "a green and tan Ford Expedition."

READ MORE: Feds Shut Down Major Fentanyl Operation Run Out of a South Side Billings Home

Law enforcement set up surveillance at the truck stop and located the Expedition. The courier approached the vehicle carrying the suitcase, opened the rear passenger door, and placed it inside. Lucero responded by tossing a stack of $100 bills onto the back seat. The courier took the money, closed the door, and gave a thumbs-up, a prearranged signal to arrest teams that the transaction was complete. Agents moved in immediately and arrested Lucero on the spot.

Homeland Security Task Force Montana Leads Multiagency Drug Prosecution

The prosecution of Lucero was carried out as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, established under Executive Order 14159. The HSTF is a multiagency partnership focused on dismantling criminal cartels, transnational criminal organizations, foreign gangs, and human trafficking and smuggling networks operating inside the United States.

HSTF Montana comprises agents and officers from multiple federal agencies and drug task forces across the state. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

Get our free mobile app

Federal Crackdown Targets Mexican Cartel Supply Chains in Montana

The Lucero case shows the reach of Mexican drug operations into Montana communities and the coordinated, multistate approach federal law enforcement is using to counter them. A transaction that originated with a courier departing California and had ties to handlers in Mexico ended with an arrest at a Montana truck stop, the result of rapid interagency cooperation spanning Nebraska, Montana, and federal partners.