Billings man admits trafficking fentanyl, assaulting federal law enforcement officer

BILLINGS - A Billings man accused of trafficking fentanyl pills in the community and ramming an occupied U.S. Marshals Service vehicle during his arrest admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Luke Michael Dovel, 29, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to assault on a federal officer. Dovel faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Dovel was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in August and September of 2023, law enforcement learned that Dovel was selling large quantities of fentanyl and that there was a warrant for his arrest because he had absconded while on state probation. On Sept. 18, 2023, multiple law enforcement agencies surveilled Dovel's suspected location, and when Dovel arrived, law enforcement used their vehicles to block Dovel's vehicle. Dovel then rammed the law enforcement vehicles several times, attempting to flee. Dovel hit a U.S. Marshals Service's vehicle that was occupied by a deputy multiple times. The deputy and other officers were not injured but their vehicles were damaged. Dovel was instructed to exit his vehicle and did so without incident. In a search of Dovel, officers found him to be in possession of fentanyl pills, more than $8,000 in U.S. currency, a knife and metal knuckles. In a search of his vehicle, law enforcement found approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and a loaded handgun magazine and ammunition.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

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