District of Wyoming
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Press Release by Mark a. Klaassen, United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Relating to the November 2020 General ElectionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Timothy W. Gist will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. AUSA Gist has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Wyoming, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.” stated United States Attorney Klaassen.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Klaassen stated that AUSA/DEO Gist will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. AUSA/DEO Gist can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (307) 332-8195.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (307) 335-7559.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
United States Attorney Klaassen said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
Former Tribal Judge Sentenced for Trafficking Oxycodone and Cocaine on the Wind River Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
On October 6, 2020, Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced former Wind River Indian Reservation Chief Tribal Court Judge Terri Smith and her sister Jerri Lee Smith on federal drug charges. TERRI SMITH, 35, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and distribution of cocaine. She received six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $500.00 and a $200.00 special assessment. JERRI LEE SMITH, 35, of Salt Lake City, Utah was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She received fifty-one months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $400.00 and a $300.00 special assessment.
“No one is above the law, even those in positions of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. “Instances of public officials being caught up in criminal activity are thankfully rare in Wyoming, but we will remain vigilant to ensure that all citizens are treated equally under the law and held accountable, regardless of their position.”
Agents with the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began an investigation into suspected drug activity and trafficking in 2018, after several traffic stops by the Wyoming Highway Patrol led to the discovery of quantities of methamphetamine, oxycodone, and cocaine. A variety of investigative resources were used to determine that Jerri Smith and Terri Smith had been obtaining oxycodone in Utah and were selling them in Fremont County and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Additionally the investigation uncovered that Jerri Smith was also obtaining methamphetamine and cocaine in Utah then distributing and selling it in Wyoming. At the time of the investigation, Terri Smith was the Chief Tribal Judge on the Wind River Indian Reservation. She later resigned from her position.
"Today's sentencing of Tribal Judge Terri Smith and her sister is a step forward in identifying public officials and private citizens who commit federal crimes and victimize the community members of the Wind River Indian Reservation," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. "Public officials who engage in violations of federal law, to include drug trafficking, erodes the public's confidence in government. Investigating these individuals is one of the FBI's top criminal priorities. The FBI Denver Division would like to extend its appreciation to the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming for their invaluable assistance in this investigation."
Sex Offender Receives Extensive Sentence for Preying on ChildRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced CHARLES PATRICK JEFFERY, JR. to 360 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Jeffery entered his plea of guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child on July 1, 2020. Jeffery has been and will continue to be required to register as a sex offender. The court found that Jeffery had no ability to pay a fine, but he was ordered to pay $1 in restitution, the amount the victim requested, and a $100 special assessment.
“This case is an example of our ongoing efforts to protect the innocence of children,” said United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen. “We take this responsibility as seriously as any other enforcement priority because of the vulnerability of these victims and the life-long impacts of abuse. We simply have to do everything we can to identify and stop this criminal behavior.”
The aggravated sexual abuse charge against Jeffery stemmed from his knowing sexual act with a child under the age of twelve between on or about November 18, 2015 and July 1, 2016 on the Wind River Indian Reservation, which the child did not disclose until 2018.
"The FBI remains committed to combating the exploitation and abuse of some of our nation's most vulnerable populations, especially children," stated Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. "We thank our partners at the Wyoming US Attorney's Office for the great prosecutorial work which resulted in Charles Jeffery Jr.'s conviction. This prosecution would not have been possible without the victim's courage in bringing forward these allegations and allowing the law enforcement community to pursue justice on their behalf."
Jeffery’s period of supervised release will run concurrent to his supervised release in an earlier case, docket number 16-CR-129-S, in which Jeffery was convicted of possession of child pornography on January 6, 2017.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal courts have imposed final judgments on two defendants in connection with the unlawful release of asbestos during a commercial renovation project in Cheyenne in 2015. The project involved the building at 2100 Pioneer Avenue, which Dr. Richard S. Cutler had purchased for use as a dental office. Despite a prior inspection that confirmed the presence of asbestos in the building, Dr. Cutler’s contractor, Jacob Lee Davis, began renovation work at the building without conducting proper abatement or taking various other measures required by federal law and regulations. A subsequent investigation by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed several workers had been exposed or potentially exposed to asbestos during the renovation project.
“The results in these cases demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting public health and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen. “The defendants in these cases caused asbestos to be released, which presented a serious health threat to workers,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, Denver Area Office. “The prosecutions in these cases further demonstrate EPA’s commitment to the protection of human health and the environment,” Ehrig said.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming prosecuted Davis and Dr. Cutler in related federal cases. Ultimately, Davis pled guilty to knowingly violating and causing others to violate asbestos work practice standards, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2(b) and 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(1). On June 9, 2020, the Honorable Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Davis to three years of supervised probation, a $9,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On September 8, 2020, the court amended Davis’ judgment to reflect his agreement to pay $2,225 restitution. Meanwhile, Dr. Cutler pled guilty to negligently causing the release of asbestos, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 and 42 U.S.C. § 7413(c)(4). On August 26, 2020, the Honorable Kelly H. Rankin sentenced Dr. Cutler to three years of supervised probation, a $25,000 fine, $2,225 restitution, and a $25 special assessment. As a condition of probation, each defendant must perform 120 hours of community service.
Asbestos is a hazardous air pollutant, and even short-term exposure can increase a person’s risk of health complications. Federal law and regulations impose various obligations on persons responsible for a demolition or renovation project at a facility containing asbestos, depending on the type and quantity of asbestos involved. In Wyoming, these obligations may include providing written notice to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at least 10 working days before disturbing material that contains asbestos. Any owner or contractor with questions about an asbestos-related project is encouraged to contact DEQ for more information.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced TRACY REIGHARD, 62, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on August 25, 2020 for mail fraud. Reighard was arrested in Laramie County. He received six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced SPENCER JAMES BARBOUR, 47, of Gillette, Wyoming on August 31, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Barbour was arrested in Buffalo, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Buffalo Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced WILLIAM RONALD BAKER, 58, of Phoenix, Arizona on September 2, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Baker was arrested in Evanston, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $400.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced TAD NATHANIEL MATHILL, 44, of Gillette, Wyoming on August 18, 2020 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of stolen mail. Mathill appeared pursuant to summons. He received thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,971.29 and a $200.00 special assessment. The Gillette Police Department, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, and the US Postal Inspection Service investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced LEO HEADLEY, Jr., 57, of Arapahoe, Wyoming on August 11, 2020 for abusive sexual contact. Headley was arrested in Lander, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred eighty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $300.00. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced MARK BRYAN LOHMAN, 55, of Torrington, Wyoming on August 10, 2020 for felon in possession of a firearm. Lohman was brought into federal custody pursuant to a writ. He received forty-one months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 fine, and restitution in the amount of $3,500.00. The Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JEREMY DEAN PRIEBE, 20, of Casper, Wyoming on August 7, 2020 for felon in possession of a firearm. Priebe was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received seventy-seven months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 fine, and a $100.00 special assessment. The Mills Police Department, Casper Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
These felons in possession of a firearm cases are 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced ARMANDO CERVANTES, 39, of Salt Lake City, Utah on July 27, 2020 for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. Cervantes was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received one hundred eighty eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $400.00. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Cervantes was part of a large methamphetamine trafficking operation distributing drugs throughout Wyoming in 2010. Cervantes lived in Utah and acquired multi pound quantities of methamphetamine from Mexican sources, which he pumped into Wyoming on a weekly basis.
Cervantes was arrested July 29, 2010 and pleaded not guilty to the allegations in the Indictment and was released on bond. Trial in the matter commenced on January 4, 2011. On the second day of trial, the Defendant fled and did not appear in court for trial. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest. The matter was continued to a later date in hopes of locating Cervantes. Cervantes remained at large and trial, in absentia, resumed on January 31, 2011. Cervantes’ defense counsel continued to represent him despite Cervantes’ deliberate nonattendance. On February 4, 2011, the jury returned a guilty verdict on both counts charged in the Indictment. Cervantes remained at large until the United States Marshals in Utah arrested him on February 5, 2020.
Department of Justice Awards over $1 Million in Forensic Grants to Aid Wyoming InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
Attorney General William P. Barr today announced that the Department of Justice has awarded more than $1 million in forensic grants to help Wyoming officials protect citizens from dangerous drugs, sexual perpetrators and violent criminals.
The Attorney General made the announcement during a roundtable meeting with state and local law enforcement officials in Wyoming, where he joined Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill, U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Mark Klaassen, Interim Director of Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Forrest Williams, and DEA Acting Administrator Tim Shea.
“Wyoming law enforcement work diligently every day to combat drug traffickers and dangerous criminals in their state,” said Attorney General Barr. “The important investments in building lab capacity and expanding forensic capabilities announced today will help squelch the flow of illegal drugs, prevent sex offenders from doing additional harm, and keep violent criminals off the streets of Wyoming’s communities.”
“Every day across Wyoming, traffickers and dangerous criminals look to bring lethal drugs and violence into our communities, while law enforcement agencies across the state are working around the clock to keep crime and addiction at bay,” said U.S. Attorney Klaassen. “These new resources will give our investigators and crime lab professionals state-of-the-art tools that they can leverage in the fight to protect Wyoming’s citizens and ensure that justice is served.”
The three grants from the Department’s Office of Justice Programs are being made to the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office. Awards from OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will allow analysts to test samples and interpret results in cases involving violent crime and dangerous drugs. Some of the funds will go specifically to help toxicologists analyze opioids and reduce the backlog of opioids and synthetic drugs that have been submitted for testing. BJA funds will also cover training, equipment and overtime costs for DNA analysts. A grant from OJP’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART Office) will allow the entry of DNA evidence from sex offenses into the sex offender registry and help to upgrade technology, collection methods and storage capacity in an effort to link sexual perpetrators to other crimes in the DNA database.
States across the country are seeing a surge in activity involving methamphetamine and dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl. Wyoming is no exception. Drug traffickers use the state’s highways to transport illicit substances and introduce them into communities, where they fuel a cycle of addiction and crime. In July, a convicted drug courier received a 20-year prison sentence for carrying 46 pounds of meth along with significant quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. The case was the largest drug bust in the state’s history.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components is located at www.ojp.gov.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced WAYNE EMERSON NIXON, 42, of Pinedale, Wyoming on July 7, 2020 for distribution of child pornography. Nixon was arrested in Pinedale, Wyoming. He received sixty months of imprisonment, to be followed by eighty-four months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 fine, restitution in the amount of $5,000.00. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced IVAN ARMANDO GARCIA, 23, of Los Angeles, California on July 1, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Garcia was arrested in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $300.00. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Sentences
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced THERESA KAY FULLERTON, 46, of Mills, Wyoming on June 29, 2020 for possession of stolen mail. Fullerton appeared pursuant to a writ. She received thirty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1500.00 fine, restitution in the amount of $150.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Postal Service Investigative Service investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced IVAN ARMANDO GARCIA, 22, of Los Angeles, CA, on July 1, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute approximately 10 pounds of heroin. Deputy Henderson of the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office arrested Garcia in August of 2019. Garcia received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $300.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
PLEAS
CHARLES PATRICK JEFFERY, Jr., 43, of Kinnear, Wyoming entered a plea of guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in United States District Court on July 1, 2020. Jeffery was indicted by a grand jury in July of 2019 on allegations that on several occasions between November of 2015 and July of 2016 he engaged in sexual acts with a minor child on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The grand jury added additional charges pertaining to two additional victims in a superseding indictment on November 21, 2019. On July 1, 2020, Jeffery entered his guilty plea to count one of the superseding indictment before Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. Judge Skavdahl set Jeffery’s sentencing hearing for September 9, 2020 in the Ewing T. Kerr Federal Courthouse in Casper. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case in conjunction with officials in Natrona and Campbell counties.
Wyoming’s Largest Drug Bust Leads to Two Decades in PrisonRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced ARNOLD DEVONNE BUTLER, 54, today in Casper. Butler was convicted on January 17, 2020 after a 4-day jury trial and found guilty on all counts, including possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Butler received two hundred forty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $500.00 special assessment.
Butler was initially stopped for a commercial vehicle inspection by the Wyoming Highway Patrol on Interstate 80 in Laramie County on May 15, 2019. He was driving a rollback style commercial tow truck and transporting a sedan. During the inspection, the Trooper became suspicious of Butler’s activities and called for a drug detection dog. The dog alerted on the towed vehicle and officers found 46 pounds of methamphetamine, two and a half kilograms of cocaine, a kilogram of synthetic fentanyl, and three kilograms of heroin hidden in a compartment built between the rear seat and trunk of the vehicle.
Further investigation of this case following Butler’s arrest led agents to uncover connections with other drug trafficking activity outside Wyoming. “The Butler investigation has been and continues to be a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional investigation that identified, disrupted and dismantled a drug trafficking organization that has been responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics across the United States.”, stated DEA Resident Agent in Charge, David A. Tyree. “The outstanding investigative efforts from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, working with the DEA and FBI in Wyoming and California developed a highway interdiction of illegal drugs into an investigation that resulted in several arrests and additional drug seizures in California and elsewhere.”
“While I am gratified with the result and commend the great detection and investigative effort of our Troopers and agents, we know that Mr. Butler is just the tip of the iceberg. Every day across Wyoming and elsewhere, drug couriers like Mr. Butler are using our highways to move these dangerous substances across the country and into our communities,” said US Attorney Mark Klaassen. “We will continue to do what we can as law enforcement to identify and stop these criminals, but our communities must also work to find ways to reduce demand and address the addiction that drives this criminal activity.”
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced TOMOTHY R. MARTINEZ, 30, of Gillette, Wyoming on June 19, 2020 for retaliation against an informant. Martinez was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received thirty-eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced TAYLOR MARIE NICKS, 25, of Gillette, Wyoming on June 19, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and retaliation against an informant. Nicks was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. She received two hundred four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300.00 special assessment. The Gillette Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced ISAAC DORMAN, 23, of Casper, Wyoming on June 19, 2020 for carjacking and aiding and abetting, theft from a federally licensed dealer of firearms, and using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Dorman was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received one hundred sixty six months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,283.76 and a $300.00 special assessment. The Casper Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced GUADALUPE HERNANDEZ, Jr., 39, of Lovell, Wyoming on June 10, 2020 for felon in possession of a firearm. Hernandez was arrested in Cody, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced TRISHA ANN GARNER, 36, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 11, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Garner was arrested in Laramie County, Wyoming. She received thirty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $200.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced SHAWN MICHAEL CONNORS, Jr., 27, of Gillette, Wyoming on June 23, 2020 for receipt of child pornography. Connors was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received sixty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case.
Two Pennsylvania Women Sentenced for Yellowstone National Park ViolationsRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Magistrate Judge Mark L Carman sentenced TARA L. DAVOLI, age 31, and SARAH A. PIOTROWSKI, age 30, both of Philadelphia for being off trail in a thermal area. The charges stemmed from a June 11, 2020 incident where both women were observed off the boardwalk walking in a thermal area, which resulted in damage to orange bacterial mats at Opal Pool in the Midway Geyser Basin. Multiple witnesses observed the two walking on the feature and confronted them in an effort to get them to stop.
Davoli and Piotrowski each received a sentence of two days imprisonment and were ordered to pay a $350.00 fine and restitution for each in the amount of $106.92 for damages to Opal Pool. They have been banned from Yellowstone National Park for two years and will serve two years unsupervised release. The amount of restitution was based on a damage assessment conducted by the Yellowstone geologist and a thermal research crew.
“The rules in our National Parks are there for a reason - to protect visitors and the natural beauty we all want to experience and enjoy. Just taking a few steps off the boardwalk in a thermal area may seem harmless, but it can really damage the ecosystem and potentially put visitors in danger..” stated United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen. “We support the National Park Service and Park Rangers who work to enforce these rules so we can all continue to enjoy amazing places like Yellowstone and preserve the park for future generations.”
"We appreciate the support of the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office in continuing to help us protect Yellowstone's resources," said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly. "The successful investigation and prosecution of these types of cases help prevent future degradation of resources committed by irresponsible visitors."
The National Park Service investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced PEYTONN M. SUCHOR, 31, of Rozet, Wyoming on June 5, 2020 for retaliation against an informant. Suchor was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received forty-two months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $500.00. The Gillette Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced AMBER DAWN BUNDY, 23, of Bridgeport, Nebraska on June 5, 2020 for possession of stolen firearms and aiding and abetting. Bundy appeared via writ. She received twenty-seven months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $500.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced KEVIN RICHARD VALLEE, 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 8, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Vallee was arrested in Laramie County, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 fine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced RICHARD MOISES PENA-BERTHO, 36, of Mexico on June 10, 2020 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Pena-Bertho was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceeding and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Pena-Bertho had been previously deported from the United States to Mexico in October of 2016. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced JACOB LEE DAVIS, 54, of Fort Collins, Colorado on June 9, 2020 for violating asbestos work practice standards. Davis appeared on a summons. He received a $9,000.00 fine and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment with restitution to be determined within ninety days. Davis will serve thirty-six months of supervised probation. The Environmental Protection Agency investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced MICHAEL ANGELO PEREZ, 37, of Casper, Wyoming on June 9, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Perez was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received one hundred eighty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment. The Casper Police Department, Mills Police Department, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced LAWRENCE SAUNDERS, Sr. a/k/a Larry Saunders, 68, of Riverton, Wyoming on June 10, 2020 for two counts of abusive sexual contact. Saunders was arrested in Lander, Wyoming. He received thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced LISA DANETTE KRUSE, a/k/a Lisa Danette Stobert , 46, of Roseburg, Oregon on June 1, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Kruse was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $200.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced MEGA LESTARI SETIYANINGSIH (a.k.a. Mega Lestari Black, Mega L. Schlautmann, Candy), 33, of Gillette, Wyoming on June 1, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Setiyaningsih was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. She received one hundred eighty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $200.00 and a $200.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced BRIAN LEE EDWARDS, 50, of Sheridan, Wyoming on June 2, 2020 for failure to register as a sex offender. Edwards was arrested in Sheridan, Wyoming. He received twelve months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced RIGOBERTO VENTURA-LEMUS (a.k.a. Victor Angel Demayuga-Luna), 33, of Copala, Guerrero, Mexico on June 3, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and aiding and abetting. Ventura-Lemus was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $400.00 and a $200.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.
Cheyenne Carjacking Suspects Arraigned in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
OSCAR ALDREDO ORTIZ, age 19, recently of Cheyenne, Wyoming and JACOB NATHANIEL HOPKINS TRIGG, age 18, of Erie, Colorado entered pleas of not guilty at their arraignments on June 1, 2020. Both were indicted on May 21, 2020 in federal court for one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting each other in the carjacking, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking. The charges were filed as a result of an investigation into a reported carjacking that occurred in Cheyenne on April 21, 2020.
Ortiz and Trigg are alleged to have been walking on Southwest Drive in Cheyenne in the late night hours of April 21, 2020 when the victim stopped his vehicle to avoid hitting them. The suspects first asked for a ride then demanded the victims vehicle from him and produced a rifle and handgun. After taking the vehicle Ortiz and Trigg demanded the victim empty his pockets. The suspects then, according to reports, fled to Colorado and were latter apprehended after returning to Cheyenne.
Their trial has been set for July 27, 2020 in Cheyenne before Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal, and is expected to take up to 5 days. Ortiz and Trigg were both remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service. Both are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Carjacking carries a potential penalty of up to fifteen years imprisonment, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence has a potential penalty of seven years to life imprisonment.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Three Fedeal Defendants Appear in CourtRead the Press Release
Skyler Sven Quiver, age 25, of Ethete, Wyoming appeared before Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on May 28, 2020 after being indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2020. Skyler Quiver was indicted on a single count of sexual abuse. He was advised of the charges against him and his arraignment and detention hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2020.
Ambrose Eugene Magnan, age 18, of Ethete, Wyoming, was arrested on May 22, 2020 after being indicted by a federal grand jury and made his initial appearance before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin. Magnan pled not guilty to assault by suffocation and his trial is set for July 27, 2020.
Alonzo Tapaha Tabaho, age 32, of St. Stephens, Wyoming, appeared before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin after being indicted for sexual abuse of a minor. Tabaho pled not guilty to the charge in the federal indictment, which was handed down on May 21, 2020. His trial is set for July 27, 2020 in federal court.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault cases often present difficult challenges for investigators and prosecutors. Nevertheless, we remain committed to taking on these cases, seeking justice, and working to protect the most vulnerable in our society.” stated United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen.
All defendants are presumed innocent until when and if proven guilty. Quiver, Magnan and Tabaho were all remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
Federal Grand Jury Conducted in CasperRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury for the District of Wyoming met in Casper from May 19th -22nd for a third session in 2020. Thirty-one cases were presented and forty-one people were indicted on crimes ranging from federal firearms offenses, drug trafficking, child exploitation, illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien, carjacking, sexual assault, assault by strangulation, counterfeiting, tax evasion, escape from custody, and assaulting law enforcement officers.
The District of Wyoming convenes a federal grand jury every two months to consider criminal charges contained in proposed indictments for cases that have been investigated by local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement. The grand jury may also investigate possible criminal activity through testimony of witnesses and obtaining records. The grand jury is comprised of 23 citizens from all over Wyoming who serve for a term of up to eighteen months.
The proceedings and deliberations of the grand jury are kept secret as provided by law. The United States Attorney’s Office presents evidence to the members of the grand jury who then deliberate to determine if the accused should stand trial for alleged crimes.
Grand jurors do not decide guilt or innocence, but merely evaluate the evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that the accused person committed it. If the jury finds the charges should proceed against the accused, it returns what is referred to as a “true bill” approving the proposed indictment. Upon return of an indictment, the accused person is typically arrested, if not already in custody, and brought promptly before a federal judge for arraignment. At this stage, the accused person is advised of the charges and requested to enter a plea of not guilty or guilty. The federal judge will also advise the accused person of his or her rights, and, if necessary, set a trial date.
An indictment is an allegation of violation of federal criminal law, and the accused has the presumption of innocence and the right to a public and speedy trial.
Cheyenne Carjacking Suspects in Federal CustodyRead the Press Release
Two suspects have been arrested after a carjacking that occurred in Cheyenne on April 21, 2020. Both arrests were made in Cheyenne at a local residence. The suspects allegedly used force and threats with a weapon against a Cheyenne resident to steal the victim’s vehicle. This incident occurred in the late evening hours in the southwest area of Cheyenne. Both suspects have been charged by complaint in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming. The names of the suspects are not being released at this time pending presentation of the case to a federal grand jury later in May.
The victim reported encountering two males on the roadway while driving in southwest Cheyenne. After he stopped to offer assistance, one male pulled out a rifle and demanded the victim turn over control of the vehicle. The second suspect allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded he empty his pockets. The suspects then fled in the victim’s vehicle.
“Carjacking is a brazen and violent crime that is thankfully rare in our communities. I appreciate the efforts of the Cheyenne and Longmont, Colorado police departments and the FBI in responding and investigating these matters as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen.
"Thanks to the combined efforts of our FBI task force and excellent relationships with local law enforcement partners, two individuals were recently apprehended on charges of carjacking and federal firearms offenses," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael H. Schneider. "Joint investigations such as this help to ensure our communities and children are safe from harm's way."
Both suspects have been charged with carjacking, which carries the potential penalty of up to fifteen years imprisonment, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which has a potential penalty of seven years to life imprisonment. Persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until when and if they are found guilty. The case continues to be under investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department, F.B.I., the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Longmont Police Department in Colorado.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Two Montana Residents Indicted on Federal Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Neoal Guyeal Hayes, age 45, was arrested on March 27, 2020 after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and Alprazolam. He was also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes’ co-defendant, Iesha Monique Dembo, age 28, was arrested on March 23, 2020 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and Alprazolam.
The indictment alleges Hayes and Dembo had been traveling together between Montana and Colorado via I-25 and were stopped for speeding in Wyoming. The ensuing investigation uncovered a large quantity of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and a loaded handgun in the vehicle.
“We continue to see our highways used as conduits for drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. “I appreciate the vigilance of our law enforcement partners to identify and intercept those who may be involved in this activity.”
Hayes was arraigned in federal court on April 30, 2020 before Chief Magistrate Kelly H. Rankin and pleaded not guilty. His trial date has yet to be set and Hayes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Dembo made her initial appearance on March 23, 2020 and pleaded not guilty with a trial date set for May 26, 2020.
The U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force in Cheyenne, with representatives from the Cheyenne Police Department’s Community Action Team (CAT) and the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, is conducting this ongoing investigation with the DEA in Denver, Colorado and the DEA in Montana.
An indictment is merely a charge and not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Celebrating 2020 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – Seeking Justice and Inspiring HopeRead the Press Release
For too long, the victims of crime have been the forgotten persons of our criminal justice system. – Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
Every day we learn about crimes that are happening in our communities. For most people it is easy to dismiss these events as things that only happen in big cities or to other people. While we are fortunate to enjoy a very low crime rate here in Wyoming, that doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting our communities and, most importantly, the lives of victims and their loved ones.
Think about any one of the tragedies you may hear about in the news – a mother driving to the grocery store who is killed by a drunk driver, a father returning from work to find his house has been burglarized, a young woman sexually assaulted. Those are real people who are suffering, and who must now rely on a criminal justice system they know little about to not only watch out for their interests but provide a sense of hope.
There was a time, more than 30 years ago, when crime victims were often overlooked. They had virtually no rights and no assistance in navigating the justice system, and the process often seemed indifferent to their needs. Victims were commonly excluded from courtrooms and denied the chance to speak at sentencing. They had no access to compensation or services to help rebuild their lives. There were few avenues to deal with their emotional and physical wounds, and victims were on their own to recover their health, security, and dignity.
Over the years, the nation has made dramatic progress in securing rights, protections, and services for victims. The Victim and Witness Protection Act (VWPA) of 1982 established “fair treatment standards” for victims and witnesses in the federal criminal justice system, and assigned responsibility for victim and witness assistance to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide. Each office employs a Victim-Witness Coordinator to ensure compliance.
The VWPA, along with the later enacted Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), also ensures specific protections for victims and witnesses of federal crime who have suffered physical, financial, or emotional trauma. These rights include:
• Protection from the accused;
• Notice of any public court or parole proceeding;
• Attendance at any public court proceeding;
• Opportunity to be heard at any public court or parole proceeding involving release, plea, or sentencing;
• Access to the attorney for the Government in the criminal case;
• Full and timely restitution to recover financial losses;
• Treatment with fairness and respect for individual dignity and privacy; and
• Notice of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which is observed this year from April 19–25, 2020, is a time to celebrate this progress as we continue to stand with our families, neighbors, friends, and colleagues whose lives have been forever altered by crime. This year’s theme: “Seek Justice. Ensure Victims’ Rights. Inspire Hope” – recognizes the individuals and groups whose advocacy has propelled the victims’ rights movement forward for the past half century, inspiring in victims and their loved ones a feeling of hope for progress, justice, and healing.
My office remains dedicated to promoting these victim rights and protections. Acknowledging their interests is an essential and routine part of our prosecutions. We work to ensure criminals are not only brought to justice but that the rights and needs of victims are carefully considered and protected along the way. This week’s observance is an opportunity to remember those who suffer most directly from crime and ensure the system works for them too.
Here in Wyoming, we have numerous organizations and non-profits dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, child exploitation, and other crimes. These groups raise awareness of victims’ rights issues and the community services available. We stand with them in their efforts as we all work to ensure that victims are never forgotten along the way.
Mark A. Klaassen
Medicaid Fraud Indictment Alleges False Claims for Caregiver ServicesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Holly Lundahl, age 63, was arrested on April 6, 2020 in Rapid City, South Dakota following an indictment by a federal grand jury in Wyoming for three counts of health care fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The charges involve allegedly fraudulent claims submitted to the Wyoming Medicaid program. The indictment is part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Wyoming Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
According to the indictment, Lundahl submitted false documentation to the Wyoming Medicaid program to register two individuals as care providers for a disabled Medicaid beneficiary. The indictment further alleges that Lundahl submitted claims for services in both individuals’ names despite the fact that neither of these individuals provided the claimed services. Lundahl also allegedly signed herself up as a care provider using false documentation and contrary to Wyoming Medicaid rules. In total, Lundahl allegedly submitted over $73,000 worth of fraudulent claims between June 2016 and January 2020.
“My office, in cooperation with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, is focused on protecting this important program from fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. “False claims undermine the integrity of the system and limit our ability to help those who rely on the program for legitimate needs.”
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Wyoming Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes fraud by those providing health care services or goods to Medicaid beneficiaries. The unit also investigates and prosecutes instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in Medicaid funded health care facilities. Wyoming residents can call the Wyoming Medicaid Fraud Control Unit toll free at 1-800-378-0345, or visit the Unit’s website at http://ag.wyo.gov/medicaid-fraud-control-unit.
Sheridan Woman Indicted on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Jessica Lynn Dierking, age 34, a resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 18, 2020, for receipt of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and two counts of production of child pornography.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for receipt and distribution of child pornography is 5 to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to life of supervised release, and up to $35,000 in a special assessment. Restitution for any victim’s injuries and loss may also be ordered. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count of production of child pornography is 15 to 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, 5 years to life of supervised release, and up to $35,000 in a special assessment. Restitution for the victim’s injuries and loss may also be ordered.
Dierking pleaded not guilty at her arraignment before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin on March 31, 2020. Judge Rankin remanded the defendant to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial has been scheduled for May 26, 2020.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.
Reservation Man Indicted on Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Renfred Earl Aoah, age 29, a resident of Fort Washakie, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 18, 2020, for three counts of assaulting an intimate partner by both strangling and suffocating her.
The Indictment alleges that on three separate occasions in 2019, the defendant knowingly and unlawfully either strangled or suffocated his intimate partner during the course of a domestic altercation.
“My office continues to prioritize the prosecution of violent crime, which can have such dramatic negative effects on our communities,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen. “We appreciate the efforts of the FBI to investigate these matters.”
The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count of assault by strangulation and/or suffocation is up to ten (10) years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution for the victim’s injuries and loss may also be ordered.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation took Aoah into custody on March 25, 2020, in a continued commitment to safety in the Wind River Reservation community.
Aoah had his initial appearance before Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on March 27, 2020. Judge Skavdahl remanded the defendant to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention and arraignment hearing scheduled for April 1, 2020. A trial date has not yet been set.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wind River Police Department.
Four Reservation Residents Indicted on Kidnapping and Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today that Ashley Rose Yellowbear, age 27, Samuel Harold Friday, age 37, Kristen Jade Antelope, age 26, and Rusty Tso Tabaho, Sr. age 27, all residents of the Wind River Indian Reservation, were indicted by a federal grand jury on March 18, 2020, for Kidnapping and Aiding and Abetting. Yellowbear and Friday were also indicted for Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm. Klaassen stated “Even in times of crisis, we must continue to enforce the law and protect our communities. Violent crime is a top priority for my office and we are working to address violence in Indian country and across Wyoming. These efforts require partnerships at every level to effectively investigate and prosecute these crimes.”
The Indictment alleges that on or about January 1, 2020, the defendants knowingly and unlawfully kidnapped a woman and a man for the purpose of assault and intimidating them to prevent reporting these acts. According to the charges, the defendants knowingly aided and abetted each other in committing the kidnapping offense. The Indictment further alleges that Yellowbear and Friday each assaulted one of the victims with a dangerous weapon, a tire-iron.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for kidnapping and aiding and abetting is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The maximum penalty upon conviction for assault with a deadly weapon is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution to the victims may be ordered.
All defendants had their initial appearance before Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on March 25, 2020. Judge Skavdahl remanded the defendants to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention and arraignment hearing scheduled for March 30, 2020. A trial date has not yet been set.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wind River Police Department.
U.s. Attorney Urges the Public to Report Suspected COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen of the District of Wyoming today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address [email protected].
“It is unfortunate, but criminals often use times of adversity to their advantage,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen. “They see moments where our attention is distracted or we are susceptible to emotional responses as an opportunity to commit brazen acts of fraud. My office and our partners in state and local law enforcement are ready to take actions necessary to stop these crimes, but we need everyone’s help to report these schemes before they cause harm.”
In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. The NCDF Hotline can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.
“I have been in contact with Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill to discuss the situation. Our offices will be cooperating to address any reports of fraud or price gouging occurring in Wyoming,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen.
Some examples of potential fraud schemes to be aware of include:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake testing kits, masks, treatments, or cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Robo-calls or phishing emails purporting to be airline or other travel cancellation communications that are actually scams used to collect personal information.
- Malicious websites and ransomware apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
- Persons seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
- Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
- Price gouging on high demand consumer products.
United States Attorney Mark Klaassen has appointed Assistant United States Attorney Christyne Martens to serve as the Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator for Wyoming. She will provide legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and conduct outreach and awareness activities. In addition to the NCDF hotline and email account, citizens may also report any suspected fraud to the United States Attorney’s Office, the Consumer Protection Unit of the Wyoming Attorney General, or their local law enforcement agencies.
To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced LESLIE JANAE ROMERO, 38, of Colorado Springs, Colorado on March 11, 2020 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Romero was arrested in Fort Collins, Colorado. She received seventy-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $400.00 and a $100.00 special assessment.
This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Cheyenne Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
U.s. Attorney Klaassen Supports Goals of the Northern ArapahoRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen issued a statement today on the Northern Arapaho Tribe’s Resolution Declaring a State of Emergency of Methamphetamine Usage on the Wind River Reservation.
“Methamphetamine distribution and abuse has been a problem in Wyoming and on the Wind River Reservation for a long time, and I understand the frustration, the concern, and the sense of urgency on this issue,” said U.S. Attorney Klaassen. “Here in Wyoming, methamphetamine is by far our most significant drug issue. The production and trafficking of ever-purer forms of the drug from Mexico have lowered prices and made this addictive substance even more prevalent in our communities – with devastating consequences. We are not alone in this fight, as many western states have seen a re-emergence of methamphetamine as a drug of particular concern.”
Northern Arapaho Tribal leaders and elders announced yesterday a resolution and formation of a tribal task force to combat the distribution and abuse of methamphetamine on the Reservation. Members of the Tribe’s Business Council, elders, judges, social services and law enforcement all described the ravages caused by methamphetamine abuse on the Reservation community and voiced their joint support for the tribal task force.
“The reality is there are no quick and easy answers, and the methamphetamine problem will not be solved through law enforcement alone,” said U.S. Attorney Klaassen. “So many factors contribute to drug abuse and the demand it creates for these substances. We must address the problem from all sides and understand the root causes. All of us must work to create strong families, communities, schools and other social structures that provide positive environments – places that encourage drug resistance and provide paths to economic opportunity. We also need effective social services, mental health, and addiction recovery programs to help those who seek a path out of addiction toward a more productive life. I appreciate that the tribal resolution recognizes the need for this multi-faceted approach.”
The U.S. Attorney’s office is responsible for prosecuting drug trafficking across the State of Wyoming and on the Wind River Reservation, in conjunction with federal, state and tribal law enforcement. Working with a multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional investigative task force that is responsible for the investigation of drug traffickers, both on and off the Reservation, the U.S. Attorney’s office aggressively prosecutes all drug crime with the overarching goal of shutting down and disrupting the supply, distribution, use and abuse of controlled substances, including methamphetamine.
Recent successful felony prosecutions involving the Wind River Indian Reservation have resulted in the prosecution of ten drug-trafficking defendants. These prosecutions include defendants operating off-reservation who supplied persons on the Reservation involved in distributing user quantities of methamphetamine to addicted persons residing on tribal lands.
“We have had some recent success, but there is always more that can be done,” said U.S. Attorney Klaassen. “My office is committed to doing our part and working with the Tribes to improve our collective efforts to combat drug crime, particularly methamphetamine, on the Wind River Indian Reservation and across the state. We look forward to working with the Northern Arapaho Task Force as an opportunity to re-evaluate our efforts and make sure we are dedicating the federal resources necessary and taking the right approach to the fight against methamphetamine.”
Rawlins Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Prescription Pain PillsRead the Press Release
Dr. DAVID RAY CESKO, 66, of Rawlins, Wyoming pleaded guilty on February 26, 2020 in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne to multiple charges that, as a physician, he unlawfully distributed controlled substances, primarily opiates and benzodiazepines, to his patients.
Cesko was charged by a Wyoming federal grand jury in March of 2019 in a thirty count indictment following a lengthy, collaborative investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The charges alleged that Cesko had, without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice, unlawfully prescribed pain killers and other controlled substances to multiple patients. At the hearing today, pursuant to a plea agreement, Cesko pleaded guilty to twenty of the original charges, including charges that he unlawfully prescribed codeine cough syrup and opiates to minor, female patients, and, on several occasions, that he unlawfully prescribed opiates to a pregnant minor.
Cesko is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13th in U.S. District Court. He faces the possibility of decades in prison. As part of the plea agreement Cesko also agreed to forever relinquish his medical license and prescription authority. Judge Scott W. Skavdahl presided over the change of plea proceedings and Assistant United States Attorney Stuart S. Healy III represents the government.
Schoolsafety.gov Launches to Help Educators, Administrators, Parents, and Law Enforcement Prepare for ThreatsRead the Press Release
Earlier this week, the Trump Administration launched the federal school safety clearinghouse website: SchoolSafety.gov. This website is a one-stop-shop with resources for Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) administrators, educators, parents and law enforcement to use to prepare for and address various threats related to safety, security, and support in schools.
In an effort to address this important issue, President Trump had earlier established the Federal Commission on School Safety to review safety practices and make meaningful and actionable recommendations of best practices to keep students safe. This new website has been created with input from the Commission, and the inter-agency cooperation of the Department of Justice, Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services,
“As a parent, I understand the importance of knowing that our children are as safe and protected as they can be in our schools,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen. “I know that many districts across Wyoming have already taken substantial and important steps to make our schools safer and I hope this new website will be a welcome additional resource. This information may also be useful to parents concerned about security issues who want to stay informed about ways to address these issues for themselves and their families.”
Casper Pharmacy Agrees to $1 Million Settlement of Allegations of Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Mark Klaassen, along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter announced a recent civil settlement involving the Osco pharmacy located at 1076 CY Avenue in Casper, Wyoming, which is owned and operated by Albertsons LLC. On January 21, 2020, Albertsons agreed to pay one million dollars to resolve allegations that its Casper-based pharmacy had committed numerous violations of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The allegations in this case arose from the broader investigation of Casper physician Shakeel Khan, who was convicted on May 24, 2019 and sentenced on August 12, 2019 for “Unlawfully Distributing and/or Dispensing Oxycodone which resulted in the death of another” and “Knowingly Aiding and Abetting Another in Dispensing/Distributing Oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose” and conspiracy to do the same. While investigating Dr. Khan’s illegal prescribing practices, investigators became concerned about the role of Casper-area pharmacies in filling prescriptions Dr. Khan provided to his patients.
As a safeguard against such abusive prescribing practices, pharmacies are required under the CSA to verify that each prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose. The CSA prohibits a pharmacy from dispensing controlled substances pursuant to an illegitimate or invalid prescription.
An audit of the Albertsons Osco Pharmacy #60 in Casper revealed a number of alleged violations of the CSA that occurred between October 15, 2015 and February 28, 2017. Investigators uncovered 128 instances of patients filling prescriptions for unusually large quantities and dosages of narcotics; patients utilizing multiple pharmacies to fill prescriptions; or third parties filling prescriptions for out-of-state patients. Additional record keeping violations were also discovered.
The settlement agreement avoids further litigation, but is not an admission of liability by Albertsons, or a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.
“This case is an example of how we must fight prescription drug abuse on both the supply and demand side,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen. “We not only focus on users who seek prescription pills for illicit purposes, but also on doctors who may abuse their prescribing authority, and pharmacies who fail to exercise diligence in monitoring prescriptions as required by law.”
“This settlement reflects the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ongoing commitment to utilize all of the tools at its disposal to fight the opioid epidemic, hold the medical and pharmaceutical communities responsible for violations, and protect the citizens of Wyoming,” said DEA Cheyenne Resident Agent in Charge David Tyree.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA Cheyenne Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS), in conjunction with the DEA Salt Lake City TDS. Assistant United States Attorney Levi Martin represented the United States.
California Resident Convicted of Multiple Charges Related to Possession and Distribution of Controlled Substances in One of the Largest Drug Busts Ever for WyomingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Mark A. Klaassen, announced today that Rio Linda, California resident Arnold Devonne Butler, 53, has been convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl; and conspiracy to distribute those substances. Butler was found guilty after a five-day jury trial in the United States District Court in Casper. Butler will be sentenced at a later date by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. Butler faces a minimum sentence of 15 years.
This case involved a commercial vehicle inspection that resulted in the discovery of nearly 60 pounds of narcotics, including 46 pounds of methamphetamine, two and half kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of heroin, and a kilogram of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. On May 14th, 2019 at approximately 10:03 a.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper was patrolling eastbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 373, in Laramie County, Wyoming. He came upon a rollback tow truck traveling eastbound and towing a gray 2017 Ford Fusion 4 door sedan. During questioning, the Trooper became suspicious of Butler’s activities and explanation of his travel. A drug detection dog was called and alerted on the rear passenger compartment of the towed vehicle. The ensuing search revealed the narcotics load in a manufactured compartment between the rear passenger seat and trunk area.
“Unfortunately our highways are being used by drug traffickers to bring addictive substances from smuggling gateways in places like California to distribute them across the nation, in some cases using commercial vehicles to disguise their illegal cargo,” said United States Attorney Mark Klaassen. “We must continue our efforts at all levels of law enforcement to disrupt this flow and protect our communities.”
This case results from a multi-agency investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and was prosecuted by United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen and Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced BRANDON F. ALLEN, 31, of The Bronx, New York on January 9, 2020 for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Allen was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received eighteen months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment with restitution to be determined within ninety days. The FBI investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced RICHARD DEAN REAVIS, 48, of Newton, North Carolina on January 21, 2020 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Reavis was arrested in Pinedale, Wyoming. He received fifty-seven months of imprisonment, to be followed by twenty-four months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced MARDOQUEO RUIZ-CHAVEZ, 28, of El Salvador on January 21, 2020 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Ruiz-Chavez was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. He was previously deported from the United States to El Salvador in September of 2019. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced BENJAMIN ROBERT DMITRY DELANY, 24, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on January 23, 2020 for assault with a dangerous weapon on a federal employee. Delany was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received forty-two months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Department of Veterans Affairs Police investigated this case.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced DANIEL ISAAC VASQUEZ MORENO, 30, of El Salvador on January 6, 2020 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Moreno was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received four months of imprisonment, to be followed by deportation proceedings, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Moreno was previously deported from the United States in 2018. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced KEITH ANTHONY CRAWFORD, 31, of Dallas, Texas on January 8, 2020 for transportation in interstate commerce for purpose of prostitution. Crawford was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $500.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, Cheyenne Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced YORDY BRINGAS-GARCIA, 23, of Mexico on January 6, 2020 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Bringas-Garcia was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Bringas-Garcia was previously deported from the United States in 2015. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced BENJAMIN BRINGAS-BAEZ, 33, of Mexico on January 6, 2020 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Bringas-Baez was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Bringas-Baez was previously deported from the United States in 2019. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced IVAN ARRELLANO-CRUZ, 39, of Mexico on December 13, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Arrellano-Cruz was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Arrellano-Cruz had previously been deported to Mexico in January of 2013. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced JEFFREY WAYNE POWELL, 56, of Gillette, Wyoming on December 17, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Powell was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $400.00 and a $200.00 special assessment. The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced ZACHARIAH ISAIAH MARES, 29, of Thornton, Colorado on December 9, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Mares was arrested in Adams County, Colorado. He received thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced BRANDON JOSEPH RUNYON, 29, of Lusk, Wyoming on December 12, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Runyon was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced SERGIO GOMEZ-ARTEAGA, 31, of Mexico on October 31, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gomez-Arteaga was arrested in Evanston, Wyoming. He received fifty-seven months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay a $100.00 fine and restitution in the amount of $400.00. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JANELLE KAY IDDINGS, 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 5, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Iddings was arrested in Laramie County, Wyoming. She received seventy months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $300.00 and a $300.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced LAMONT DUBOIS STURGIS, 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 5, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sturgis was arrested in Laramie County, Wyoming. He received one hundred thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay community restitution in the amount of $500.00 and a $200.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced ROBERT EUGENE LOGAN, 63, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on November 5, 2019 for possession of child pornography. Logan was arrested in Laramie County, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by eighty-four months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and $3,000.00 to the Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Cheyenne Man Sentenced to over Twenty-Two Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Cheyenne, Wyoming resident Jonathon Ray Swan, was sentenced on November 1, 2019, to 270 months (22.5 years) in federal prison by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. After a three-day trial held July 29 - 31, 2019, in Casper, Wyoming, Jonathon Swan was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
On December 16, 2018, Cheyenne law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a Jonathon Swan’s vehicle on Interstate 25 at the intersection of Interstate 80, for having an unreadable temporary registration in the back window of the vehicle. A Cheyenne K9 Officer and his canine partner were also present at the time of the traffic stop. During the course of the traffic stop, the certified canine conducted a free air sniff around the exterior of the vehicle and indicated to the odor of an illegal narcotic.
A subsequent search of the vehicle was conducted which led to the seizure of approximately 955 grams (approximately 2.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. Also located during the search of the vehicle was a Charter Arms, .38 special revolver. In addition, officers located three digital scales and packaging materials consistent with the sale and delivery of controlled substances. Jonathon Swan was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
“This case is an example of what we can accomplish when federal and local law enforcement work together to target drug trafficking activity. The Defendant’s conviction helps stem the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and has removed a potentially violent offender from our streets,” stated United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen.
Swan will serve sixty months of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence and was ordered to pay $500.00 in community restitution and a special assessment of $200.00.
This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Cheyenne Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced OSCAR MACIAS-UGARTE, 40, of Mexico on October 25, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Macias-Ugarte was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He/ received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Macias-Ugarte had been previously deported to Mexico in 2014. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced DAVID SCOTT MURRAY, 54, of Granbury, Texas on October 28, 2019 for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Murray was arrested in Laramie, Wyoming. He received sixty months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced DIEGO ARMANDO SANTOS-DIAZ, 29, of Mexico on October 25, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Santos-Diaz was arrested in Jackson, Wyoming. He received six months of imprisonment, is subject to deportation upon his release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Santos-Diaz was previously deported in 2017. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced JONATHAN WILLIAM DAVIS, 31, of Toledo, Ohio on October 28, 2019 for interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Davis was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received sixty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced ANDREA ALDACO, 30, of Wasco, California on October 30, 2019 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Aldaco was arrested in Laramie, Wyoming. She received eighty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Laramie Police Department, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the DEA investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced ADRIAN SEVERO REYNA, SR., 44, of Wasco, California on October 30, 2019 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Reyna Sr. was arrested in Laramie, Wyoming. He received one hundred thirty one months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Laramie Police Department, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the DEA investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced NATHAN ANDREW SELTZER, 32, of Grand Junction, Colorado on October 28, 2019 for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Seltzer was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received thirty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
FBI Crime Statistics Show Reduction in Violent Crime Across WyomingRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Mark A. Klaassen announced today a significant reduction in violent crime affecting Wyoming communities over the past two years. The Uniform Crime Reporting Index for Wyoming, as compiled by the FBI, indicates violent crime in Wyoming dropped approximately 17% between 2016 and 2018. “This decrease in violent crimes is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement across the State of Wyoming. I appreciate their efforts and assistance these partners provide to our federal law enforcement agencies as we continue our Project Safe Neighborhoods program emphasis.” The reduction in Wyoming is consistent with a nationwide decrease in violent crime that has been occurring since 2017.
Law enforcement agencies throughout Wyoming submit reports on offenses, arrests, clearances, and other supplemental information to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Those reports are processed and a yearly report is sent to the FBI for compilation and analysis. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. During this two-year period, homicides in Wyoming dropped from 19 in 2016 to 14 in 2018. During the same time aggravated assaults dropped from 952 to 722 and robbery went down from 57 to 43.
Two years ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven effective at reducing violent crime. The goal of PSN is for a broad spectrum of stakeholders to work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs with the goal of achieving lasting reductions in crime.
“Throughout the past two years, as part of our PSN efforts, we have been looking for ways to more effectively collaborate and partner with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” said Klaassen
According to FBI’s Uniform Crime Report released this week, the violent crime rate also decreased nationwide for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers. “The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger.”
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced JEREMY LEE SESTAK, 38, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 30, 2019 for possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. Sestak was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received one hundred eighty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment and $500.00 to the Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.
In December 2018, Sestak came to the attention of the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force through the receipt of a Cybertip regarding the sharing of child pornography via Tumblr. Subsequent investigation indicated Sestak took sexually explicit photographs of a four year old. On July 19, 2019, Sestak plead guilty to Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography, both in violation of 18 U.S. Code 2252A, in the District of Wyoming. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with affiliated law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Wyoming work together as part of the Wyoming ICAC. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced SERGIO NERI-ARCE, 36, of Mexico on September 20, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Neri-Arce was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced KIMBERLY DAWN DANIELS, 46, of Sheridan, Wyoming on September 17, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Daniels was arrested in Sheridan, Wyoming. She received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500.00. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced MICHAEL DEE BEARCLAW, Jr., 30, of Lodge Grass, Montana on September 18, 2019 for stealing a firearm from a federal firearm licensee. Bearclaw was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received ninety months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $301.98. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
Grand Jury Indicts Shooting Suspect on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
On September 24, 2019 a Federal Grand Jury returned and indictment against ANDREW WEAVER, age 25, of Cheyenne, Wyoming for being a felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a shooting that occurred in Cheyenne on September 16th. Weaver made his initial appearance in front of Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin on September 25th and was ordered to be held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. Weaver will have his arraignment and detention hearing on September 30th.
The Cheyenne Police Department along with agents of the FBI, DEA, and ATF continue to investigate the shootings of four people in Cheyenne on September 16, 2019. The United States Attorney’s Office is in contact with all agencies involved.
Mark A. Klaassen, United States Attorney for Wyoming, stated, “This indictment is a first step in an ongoing process. My office will continue to do all we can to investigate and develop this case and see that it’s charged appropriately. I appreciate the cooperation that is occurring between our local Cheyenne Police and our federal law enforcement agency partners in this effort.”
An indictment is an allegation and Mr. Weaver is presumed innocent until if and when proven guilty in court.
Teamwork Between State and Federal Agents Nets Substantial Sentneces for Exploitation of Children CrimesRead the Press Release
On September 20, 2019, in the District of Wyoming, JUSTIN DAVID BROWN, age 27 of Riverton, Wyoming was sentenced to seven hundred twenty months in prison followed by lifetime-supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography. On January 4, 2019, the US Department Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Casper, Wyoming office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Lander, Wyoming office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Riverton and Casper, Wyoming offices arrested Justin David Brown, a registered sex offender, for federal violations of Production and Distribution of Child Pornography in Riverton, Wyoming.
On January 4, 2019, FBI Lander requested the assistance of HSI and DCI on an investigative lead they received from another FBI Field Office. Initial information indicated that Brown had produced and distributed child pornography to at least one suspect on the east coast. Within hours of receiving the initial lead information, Agents from HSI, FBI and DCI worked collaboratively to rescue a victim and apprehend Brown. During a post arrest interview, Brown admitted to sexually abusing a young toddler, producing images and videos of the abuse, and distributing those to others with an interest in the sexual exploitation of children. In addition, Brown admitted to seeking out and communicating with numerous other individuals about the sexual abuse of children.
Brown consented to law enforcement assuming his online identity and as a result, Agents identified offenders within Wyoming and other jurisdictions who committed crimes against children and were charged and sentenced in U.S. District Court, including:
ROBERT WILLIAM COTTER, 35, of Casper, Wyoming, who was sentenced on July 17, 2019, for Production of Child Pornography. Cotter was sentenced to two hundred ten months of imprisonment, to be followed by lifetime-supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,500, a $100 special assessment and $500 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act.
DAVID THOMAS WILLIAMS, 36, of Laurel, Montana, who was sentenced on August 13, 2019, for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor. Williams was sentenced to one hundred fifty months of imprisonment, to be followed by 120 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138 and a $100 special assessment.
WILLIS STEVEN SMITH, 24, formerly of Lyman, Wyoming, who was sentenced on September 18, 2019 for Aiding and Abetting the Production of Child Pornography. Smith was sentenced to one hundred eighty months of imprisonment, to be followed by one hundred twenty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138.00, a $100.00 special assessment, and a $400 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie A. Hambrick and Timothy J. Forwood and the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Mark A. Klaassen, prosecuted these cases. In regards to the investigation and sentences Klaassen stated, “My office remains committed to protecting our communities from individuals like these, who are involved in the production and sharing of child pornography. Their conduct victimizes innocent children, the most vulnerable among us, and we must do all we can to prevent and deter this crime.”
DCI and HSI, along with law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Wyoming, work together as part of the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JOEL MOLINA-CRUZ, 37, on August 27, 2019 for illegal-re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Molina-Cruz was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received eighteen months of imprisonment and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Molina-Cruz is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced JASON AUGUST OBERMUELLER, 41, of Jensen, Utah on September 4, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Obermueller was arrested in Utah. He received fourteen months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $5,500.00 fine, and a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced DAMEON DURANTE McDOWELL, 41, of Casper, Wyoming on September 4, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. McDowell was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received one hundred ten months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Casper Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced AUSTIN JAMES KELLY, 25, of Arizona on September 5, 2019 for possession of a stolen firearm. Kelly was arrested in Park County, Wyoming. He received time served to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced DIEGO ALBERTO LOPEZ-MARTINEZ, 30, of Mexico on August 21, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Lopez-Martinez was arrested in Basin, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings. Lopez-Martinez has previously deported from the United States in November of 2010. The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced JASON ALLEN LITTLE, 43, of Meeteetse, Wyoming on August 22, 2019 for unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Little was arrested in Thermopolis, Wyoming. He received thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced NELSON FARIS RAMOS-MIRANDA, 35, of Honduras on August 21, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Ramos-Miranda was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings. Ramos-Miranda had previously been deported from the United States in September of 2011. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced IVAN RAMOS-TZOMPA, 32, of Mexico on August 27, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Ramos-Tzompa was arrested in Teton County, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten day to allow for deportation proceedings and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. Ramos-Tzompa had previously been deported in 2007. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced RAYMOND LEE NORCUTT, Jr., 35, with no fixed residence, on August 19, 2019 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Norcutt was arrested in Hot Springs County, Wyoming. He received a total of one hundred-twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced AUSTIN STORM DREW GRAUBERGER, 26, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on August 20, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Grauberger was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced MATTHEW HUNTER HEUER, 42, of Mills, Wyoming on August 21, 2019 for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Heuer was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced THOMAS QUINN SURRELL, 27, of Riverton, Wyoming on August 20, 2019 for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Surrell was arrested in Lander, Wyoming. He received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,154.29. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced STERLING CHARLES BLINDMAN , 26, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming on August 19, 2019 for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Blindman was arrested in Fort Washakie, Wyoming. He received fifty-one months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $250.00 fine, a $100.00 special assessment with restitution to be determined at a later date,. The FBI investigated this case.
Casper Physician Sentenced for Prescription Drug Conspiracy Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
United States Attorney’s Office today announced the sentencing of Shakeel Kahn and his brother Nabeel Kahn on federal charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise and conspiring to distribute prescription medications, which resulted in the death Jessica Burch. The sentencing follows a nearly four week trial that concluded in May 2019.
Shakeel and Nabeel Kahn were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Shakeel A. Kahn, (53) received a 25 year sentence for counts including drug distribution resulting in death, operating a continuing criminal enterprise, and the use of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime. Nabeel Aziz “Sonny” Kahn (46), received a 15 year sentence, including a 5 year consecutive sentence for use of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime.
“This is a substantial sentence that reflects the severity of the offenses in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. “In concert with the ongoing nationwide effort to combat opioid abuse, my office will continue to focus on stemming the tide of illegally prescribed drugs. These are particularly addictive and dangerous drugs that must be used with care, and we must ensure the integrity of the prescribing process to prevent abuse,” said Klaassen. “I appreciate the effort of the DEA diversion team in the investigation of this case.”
Numerous other defendants were charged and convicted in State court on drug trafficking charges for their involvement in selling prescription medications received through Shakeel Kahn’s practice.
The investigation of this case began in April 2016, based on a complaint from the Wyoming Board of Pharmacy indicating Shakeel Kahn was prescribing large amounts of controlled substances under two DEA registration numbers – one in Arizona and one in Wyoming. Trial testimony revealed that the Kahn drug distribution organization was unlawfully prescribing opioids in small rural communities located in and around Fort Mohave, Arizona; Casper, Wyoming; and the Wind River Indian Reservation between January of 2011 and December of 2016.
Shakeel Kahn purported to be a pain management physician. He targeted vulnerable addicts as customers. They received prescriptions for highly addictive opioids at rapidly escalating volume and in potentially deadly combination with other drugs. It was not uncommon for customers to pay as much as $4,000 per month to Kahn in exchange for the prescription opioids. The patients who received the medications often had no visible source of income that would allow them to afford the prescriptions – other than what they were earning re-selling the drugs on the street. Tragically, at least one patient, Jessica Burch, died as a result of an overdose of medications received from Shakeel Kahn’s practice.
This case was investigated with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced FRANCISCO GONZALES-DIAZ, 29, of Mexico on July 20, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Gonzales-Diaz was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced TERRY TERRILL BLANKS, 36, of Murray, Utah on August 5, 2019 for two counts of transportation in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution. Blanks was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received forty months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment. The Cheyenne Police Department and the FBI investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced SAMANTHA BROOKE SCHIEFER, 23, of Gillette, Wyoming on August 5, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Schiefer was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She received forty-one months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $200.00. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
Federal Conviction and Sentence Imposed for Repeat Drug Trafficking OffenderRead the Press Release
On July 17, 2019, Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced LISA MARIE BROWN, 50, of Rio Linda, California to seventy-eight months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on May 8, 2019. She had previously been convicted of felony unlawful manufacture and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances under State law and was on probation at the time she was arrested on federal charges.
“Methamphetamine continues to be a significant problem in our communities across Wyoming,” said United States Attorney Mark A. Klaassen, “we understand the addiction that drives this problem, but as law enforcement our role is to continue to target those who add fuel to the fire by engaging in distribution of these dangerously addictive and destructive substances.” “I appreciate the joint effort of DEA and the Cheyenne Police Department as they work together to improve investigations and enforcement in this vital area.”
Brown will serve thirty-six months of supervised release after her prison term concludes and was ordered to pay $200.00 in community restitution and a $100.00 special assessment.
This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Cheyenne Police Department, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.
Activity in the United States Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced DANIEL DORF, 20, of Bar Nunn, Wyoming on July 17, 2019 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dorf was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by forty-eight months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $400.00. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced GUADALUPE CORONADO-ENCINAS, 47, of Mexico on July 17, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Encinas was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by twenty-four months of supervised release. Encinas is subject to deportation proceedings. The US Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.
Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced JOSHUA SCOTT RICHARDS, 37, of Jackson, Wyoming on July 17, 2019 for access with intent to view child pornography. Richards was arrested in Jackson, Wyoming. He received twenty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1500.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation an abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.