Belgrade man sentenced to over 18 years in prison on cocaine and gun charges

MISSOULA - A Belgrade man who was trafficking cocaine while possessing a firearm in Belgrade and Bozeman was sentenced today to 220 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Leodis Robert Roach, 43, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christenson presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on May 6, 2025, law enforcement officers used a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of one ounce of cocaine from Leodis Roach and a co-defendant.

On May 22, 2025, the confidential informant conducted another controlled purchase of one ounce of cocaine from Roach and a co-defendant.

On June 4, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Bozeman. Roach was a passenger in the vehicle and was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Officers located approximately 25 grams of cocaine that was individually packaged in the vehicle and a Glock pistol under the passenger seat where Roach had been sitting. A search warrant was executed at the driver's residence. Roach's vehicle was in the garage and contained approximately 937 grams of cocaine, body armor, and a Diamondback firearm.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation.

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