Man pleads guilty after found with half-ton pot stash

PIERRE (AP) — A Massachusetts man who authorities say was caught with nearly half a ton of marijuana in South Dakota has pleaded guilty.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says 40-year-old Donald McCormick of Ipswich, Mass., faces up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine on the charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Sentencing is April 19 in Pennington County.

The charge stemmed from a Jan. 26 traffic stop on Interstate 90 east of Rapid City. Authorities say a Highway Patrol trooper's drug dog detected the bales of marijuana in the back of McCormick's truck. The 947 pounds of pot had an estimated street value of $3.9 million.

The patrol says the seizure is believed to be the biggest pot bust from a traffic stop in South Dakota history.

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