Williston meth dealer hid two pounds of meth in pinata, peanut butter jar

GREAT FALLS, ND – A federal court jury today convicted a North Dakota man of methamphetamine trafficking crimes after investigators seized nearly two pounds of meth that were hidden in a pinata and a jar of peanut butter, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

After a three-day trial that began on Nov. 4, a jury found Christopher Michael Stebbins, 53, of Williston, N.D., guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and with attempted possession with intent to distribute meth.

Stebbins faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on each crime.

Chief U.S. District Judge Bryan M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for March 4, 2021 and ordered Stebbins detained.

“Pinatas are meant to be stuffed with candy, not meth,” U.S. Attorney Alme said. “Mr. Stebbins worked with others to bring large amounts of this poison to Montana communities, including the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Organizations that push meth will be broken up, and we will stop their spread. I want to thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Service and the Merced, CA, Police Department for their work on this case.”

The prosecution presented evidence at trial that on Nov. 8, 2019, Don Fred Baldwin, of Merced, CA, mailed almost two pounds of meth to Stebbins to an address of a residence in Brockton, located on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The meth was hidden in a jar of peanut butter and inside a “cop dog” pinata. Law enforcement officers intercepted the package, obtained a search warrant and found 1.7 pounds of meth inside the pinata and the peanut butter jar. The quantity of meth seized is the equivalent of about 6,208 doses.

Baldwin was convicted in a companion case of meth distribution and was sentenced in September to six years in prison.

A witness told law enforcement officers that Stebbins received meth from Baldwin and that the shipments were usually one-pound quantities. Baldwin typically shipped the meth to Stebbins’ home in Williston and that the Nov. 8 package was the only shipment to the Brockton residence. The witness said Stebbins would send Baldwin cash for the drugs, which Baldwin would then send to Stebbins. Stebbins would re-package the meth to sell to others.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Postal Service and the Merced, CA, Police Department.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.