Montana woman who hid methamphetamine in her body sentenced to 5 ½ years in federal prison
GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A Montana woman who hid methamphetamine inside her body was sentenced Wednesday to 66 months in prison and four years of supervised release following her conviction for possessing methamphetamine.
This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, District of Montana. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Great Falls Police Department.
Macedonia Frances Mondragon, 33, from Great Falls, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Federal prosecutors said Mondragon initially was arrested on March 16, 2018, on warrants after Great Falls police officers responded to a shoplifting report involving four individuals at Walmart. Officers searched Mondragon’s purse and found stolen items, a cellphone, drug paraphernalia and a notebook that appeared to be a drug ledger. Officers also seized a money wire receipt showing that a member of the group had just transferred $800 to a person in California.
While being booked into jail on city warrants and the theft from Walmart, a detention officer found a package containing 46.4 grams of methamphetamine concealed in Mondragon’s body.
Further investigation by HSI special agents found that Mondragon had been involved in distributing methamphetamine in the Great Falls area for at least the previous two months.
“We continue to battle the scourge of methamphetamine that devastates families and neighborhoods across Montana,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Cagen, HSI Denver. “Together with our law enforcement partners we leverage information, resources and expertise to help keep our communities safe from this destructive drug.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Betley, District of Montana, prosecuted this case.
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