District of Wyoming
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Jackson man found guilty of receiving cocaine for redistribution in the mailRead the Press Release
Oneil Anthony Findley, 28, of Jackson, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on Dec. 11 of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense, and drug conspiracy. The trial lasted three days and was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, while investigating a possible drug distribution network in Jackson, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and United States Postal Inspection Service learned that cocaine was being shipped to the area. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package that contained over a pound of cocaine and was being shipped to Findley’s P.O. Box under a fictitious name. Findley attempted to pick up the package and was taken into custody for questioning. Findley claimed he was unaware that the package contained cocaine, but made inconsistent statements as it related to the fictitious name used on the package and who shipped the cocaine. Phone data showed the Defendant communicating with the individual who shipped the cocaine, checking the United States Post Office website for information related to the shipment, and Findley discussing the distribution of narcotics with other individuals. The Government was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Findley knew the package contained the illegal substance and he intended to distribute it.
Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann said, “This conviction makes it clear that drug traffickers will be prosecuted and punished for poisoning Wyoming communities. I want to thank the Postal Inspection Service and DCI for their work on this investigation.”
“USPIS Denver Division Inspector-in-Charge Bryan Musgrove said: “United States Postal Inspectors are dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the US Mail. We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impacts the safety of postal employees and postal customers. We thank our law enforcement partners for working with us to combat these crimes in hopes of making our communities a safer place to live and work.”
Sentencing has been set for February 28, 2025. Finley faces up to 44 years in federal prison with three years to life of supervised release, up to a $2.25 million fine, and a $300 special assessment.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-CR-00131
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Sexual Assault Material
Justin Michael Lamb, 29, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison with 15 years of supervised release to follow, for the production of child pornography. According to court documents, in May of 2023, a Wyoming probation agent was supervising the defendant after he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender. Lamb failed to report to probation and update his offender registration, as required. Around the same time, a tip came in that Lamb was dating a minor. Casper Police Department officers and detectives conducted interviews and searched Lamb's digital devices. They found over 100 files of lude and lascivious material of a minor. The defendant was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00099
Gregory Scott Gage, 31, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release to follow, for obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children, subsequent offense. According to court documents, on March 25, a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agent was contacted by a probation officer about Gage possessing electronics containing potential files of child pornography. Gage was under supervision after being sentenced for access with intent to view child pornography. Agents found and forensically investigated three smartphones, all of which contained pornographic depictions of minors. Gage was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept 13, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5, in Cheyenne. U.S. Probation and Parole, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00100
Drug Trafficking & Firearms
Larry Arguijo, 46, of Douglas, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in June of 2024, agents with DCI Central Enforcement Team (CEET) began an investigation into an ongoing conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, occurring in Converse and Natrona County. During the investigation, several individuals including Arguijo were identified as part of the conspiracy. Arguijo waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Sept. 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. Homeland Security Investigations and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00132
Firearm Offenses
Howard George Lujan, 36, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served from July 30, 2024, up to January 6, 2025, with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement stopped a vehicle that Lujan was a passenger in and found a gun wrapped up in a sweatshirt under the seat he was sitting in. Lujan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Lujan was indicted on July 18, brought into federal custody on July 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12 and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00122
Kenneth Levi Crawford, 24, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 25, a citizen called the Casper Police Department to report the location of a fugitive, the defendant. Crawford was found where the citizen described, and officers confirmed that Crawford had multiple active warrants. When officers encountered him, he had a pistol in his waistband. Crawford is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Crawford was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Casper Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00115
Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Arnulfo Perez-Gomez, 31, of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for illegal reentry into the United States. Perez-Gomez will be deported following his sentence. According to court documents, on August 4, Perez-Gomez was found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Sweetwater County Detention Center. Perez-Gomez had been arrested for state drug charges. Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputies alerted ICE’s Casper office that Perez-Gomez claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala on his booking sheet. ICE agents determined Perez-Gomez had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in December 2013. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00156Margarito Sanchez-Velazquez, 37, of Chapultenango, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, in April 2022, Sanchez-Velazquez was encountered in Gillette, Wyoming. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted, and they determined that Sanchez-Velazquez did not have permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in May 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00104
Vitaliano Garcia-Mendez, 49, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 26, Garcia-Mendez was arrested by the Big Horn Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A deportation officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Garcia-Mendez was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in June 2003. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00108
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
Colorado Man Sentenced to 22 years for Kidnapping Employee from Michael Bloomberg’s RanchRead the Press Release
CHEYENNE⎯ U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced Joseph Beecher, 51, of Craig, Colorado to 264 months in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow, for the kidnapping of a woman from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch in February 2022.
Beecher was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, using/carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and transportation of stolen firearms following a three-day trial that ended on Aug. 28 with a guilty verdict.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Beecher lived and worked at an apartment complex in Craig, Colorado. In the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2022, Beecher was informed by his employer that his services were no longer needed. Beecher broke into his employer’s home and stole two firearms, including a Bushmaster AR-style rifle. Beecher then drove to a ranch in Colorado owned by Michael Bloomberg, intent on killing Mr. Bloomberg, but finding only a female employee present on the property. Beecher took the woman hostage at gunpoint and forced her to drive him to various locations to locate and kill another media mogul in Colorado. Unable to find his second target, Beecher eventually forced the woman at gunpoint to drive him to the Stage Coach Motel in Cheyenne, where Beecher could rest and figure out his next criminal act. In the early morning hours of February 3, 2022, SWAT officers with the Cheyenne Police Department rescued the woman and arrested Beecher at the motel. The woman was physically unharmed.
Beecher was indicted on March 17, 2022, and pleaded not guilty on March 21, 2022. The FBI, Cheyenne Police Department, Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Craig Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen prosecuted the 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction
strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN
Case No. 22-CR-00028
U.S. Attorney’s Office forms a Project Safe Neighborhoods Leadership CommitteeRead the Press Release
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them by implementing the four PSN design elements: 1) Community Engagement, 2) Prevention and Intervention, 3) Focused and Strategic Enforcement, and 4) Accountability.
In October 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office formed a Wyoming PSN Leadership Committee to determine where and how PSN resources would be used in Wyoming, develop and implement enforcement strategies to prevent and reduce crime and provide oversight and evaluation of the program’s progress.
The PSN Leadership Committee reviewed and analyzed Wyoming crime statistics as reported to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and decided to concentrate PSN resources in Laramie County. Its focus is on the following areas of concern:
- Violent offenders who victimize children;
- Armed offenders, including individuals federally prohibited from possessing firearms;
- Violent crime recidivists;
- Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) offenders who commit a violent offense stemming from IPV and/or who use firearms during an IPV crime;
- Violent offenders who possess firearms while distributing controlled substances; and
- Violent offenders involved in human trafficking.
“The goal of bringing this committee together is to make Wyoming safer by supporting local and state law enforcement and prosecutors, and by prosecuting appropriate violent offenders in federal court where they will receive long prison sentences,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann.
In early 2024, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and the Cheyenne Police Department were approved to apply for and receive PSN grant funding to help prevent and reduce violent crime. Officials from both agencies, as well as officials from the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office, have since joined the PSN Leadership Committee to provide important insight regarding the needs and concerns of Laramie County and participate in the development of programs and strategies that emphasize the core elements of PSN.
"Project Safe Neighborhoods is a vital partnership between all levels of law enforcement,” said Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco. “By combining our resources and expertise, we can effectively identify offenders, enhance prevention efforts, and strengthen our communities.”
The program was tailored to combat the local violent crime problems. It enhances coordination and cooperation amongst public safety partners to ensure tactics, resources, and intelligence are integrated to identify and target violent offenders and criminal organizations operating within Laramie County.
Sheriff Brian Kozak said he will use the PSN resources to provide exceptional service to other criminal justice agencies in Laramie County and to help domestic violence victims. The Sheriff will host an advanced homicide investigation course for local detectives, and he plans to purchase state-of-the-art cameras to capture a victim’s bruising following a domestic assault. Sheriff Kozak said, “The collaboration of the PSN Leadership Committee will help us to bring about justice following a violent crime.”
The following agencies are currently participating in the PSN program and are represented on the Leadership Committee:
- Cheyenne Police Department
- Laramie County District Attorney’s Office
- Laramie County Sheriff’s Office
- Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police
- Wyoming Department of Corrections
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Homeland Security Investigations
- United States Attorney’s Office
- United States Marshals Service
"The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation is honored to be partnered with our state, local, and federal partners on the PSN initiative,” said Ronnie Jones, Director of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. “I am thankful for the cooperation, commitment and work the United States Attorney's office has provided to this program to help make our state a safer place to live and work. We look forward to seeing how all the stakeholders work together to implement new ideas and strategies to address local violent crime."
To learn more about programs within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, visit www.justice.gov/usao-wy. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Injury or Depredation to United States Property
Sherette Joseph Lujan, 48, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release for injury or depredation to United States property. The court also ordered him to pay $2,304 in restitution. According to court documents, on June 15, the Riverton Police Department was dispatched to the Riverton Post Office for a report of a man breaking windows in the building with a metal object. Officers detained Lujan who claimed a group of “gangsters” were following him, so he attempted to barricade himself inside the Post Office and break the windows to scare them off. Lujan also admitted that he had done methamphetamine earlier in the night. Lujan was indicted on July 10, pleaded guilty on Sept. 3, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced him on Nov. 22, in Cheyenne. The U.S. Postal Service and Riverton Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00097
Child Pornography
Robert Lynn Harris, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, with 10 years of supervised release to follow, for possession and access with intent to view child pornography, subsequent offense. The court also ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution. According to court documents, on May 13, Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agents were contacted by U.S. Probation Agents related to a supervision confiscation of evidence resulting from a search conducted on Harris, a convicted sex offender with a lifetime term of supervised release. The agent had located child pornography on a micro-SD card belonging to the defendant. Harris was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, and was sentenced on Nov. 27, by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) ICAC Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Z. Seth Griswold. Case No. 24-CR-00101
Drug Trafficking
Kathleen Lindsay, 36, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 10, the Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop to execute a search warrant. Troopers seized 43 grams of fentanyl and 140 grams of methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia. Lindsay was taken to the Natrona County Detention Center where law enforcement located a bag of 90 fentanyl pills inside of her body. She was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 25, in Cheyenne. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00066
Kenneth Waters, 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment, with four years of supervised release to follow, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, between May 15, and June 20, law enforcement conducted several controlled purchases from Waters, totaling 15.06 grams. He was arrested on June 20 and an additional 22.27 grams of fentanyl were in his residence. Walters was indicted on July 31, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 26, in Cheyenne. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00129
Kevin Washakie, 34, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served from May 29 to Dec. 2, with three years of supervised release to follow, for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in September 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Washakie. He was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 31, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 27, in Casper. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00083
Firearm Offenses
Brian Scott Birden, 54, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement was called to a house in Sheridan for a man firing multiple rounds inside the victim’s house while she was at work. The victim received a call about the disturbance and was able to make it home and take control of her gun before law enforcement arrived. They discovered 8 bullet holes and 16 spent shell casings. Birden is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was indicted July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 26, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00116
Local veterinarian agrees to pay civil penalty for alleged controlled substance act violationsRead the Press Release
On Nov. 21, a civil settlement agreement was executed between Dr. Rodney Hartshorn, 58, a veterinarian in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the United States Attorney's Office. Dr. Hartshorn agreed to pay a $30,000 monetary penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substance Act.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents from the Cheyenne Tactical Diversion Squad and Diversion Investigators from the Rocky Mountain Field Division began investigating Dr. Hartshorn based on a tip stating that Dr. Hartshorn’s veterinary practice, Avenues Pet Hospital, routinely takes back controlled substances from clients, places the returns in an unlocked “donated” medication bin, and allows the controlled substances to be used by other clients.
On April 23, DEA conducted an inspection of Avenues Pet Hospital and found systemic recordkeeping violations and failures to safeguard controlled substances. DEA personnel also seized controlled substances found in the “donated” medication bin.
“It is through our partnership with the DEA that we can ensure DEA registrants maintain proper records and institute proper protocols so that controlled substances do not fall into the wrong hands,” said Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann.
“DEA works diligently to ensure the safety of the public by regulating the use of controlled substances,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We work daily to ensure DEA registrants are using their registrations in a manner consistent with the best interests and safety for the people of Wyoming.”
The case was investigated by DEA Special Agents and Diversion Investigators and handled by Assistant United States Attorney Levi Martin.
Case No. 2024-V-00086
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal Lands Offenses
Mathew Crabtree, 36, of New Market, Alabama, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and refusing to consent to a breath test. For the DUI offense, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on two years of unsupervised probation, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time. For refusing a breath test the defendant was sentenced to pay a $750 fine and serve a seven-day term of incarceration. The defendant received credit for three days previously served and must serve the remaining four days before May 20, 2025. Crabtree pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case.
Matthew Stetzel, age 36, previously of Mammoth, Wyoming, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), refusing to consent to a breath test, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. For the DUI, he was sentenced to a fine of $750 and one year of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that period. He was sentenced to a fine of $100 for the open container violation, and for the refusal to take a breath test, he was sentenced to seven days of incarceration. The defendant has credit for one day previously served and must serve the remaining six days before May 21, 2025. Stetzel pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficking
Ricardo Valencia, 43, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 11, 2022, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over a car speeding on I-80 in Laramie County. Differing stories from the three passengers who claimed to be going to Iowa for different reasons led the trooper to deploy a narcotics detection canine, who then alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle was conducted and approximately 8 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a glass smoking pipe, and numerous clear cellophane packages were seized. Valencia admitted that the items belonged to him. He was indicted on Jan. 11, 2023, arrested in California on state charges in March 2024, and brought into federal custody in May. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 30. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 21, in Cheyenne. WHP and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00012
Nicholas Elton Terry, 40, of Torrington, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months in prison with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over Terry for speeding on I-25 in Laramie County. The trooper said Terry appeared nervous and was unable to produce any documentation for himself or the vehicle. While they figured things out in the patrol vehicle, another trooper deployed a narcotics detection canine who alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. About 1,000 fentanyl pills were located along with three cell phones. Terry was indicted May 16, pleaded guilty Aug. 28 and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 19, in Casper. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and WHP investigated the Crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00072
Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun
Preston Lewis, 21, of Rock Spring, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for the unlawful possession of a machine gun. According to court documents, on April 11, the Rock Springs Police Department was called to a firearms dealer for a report of a suspicious male who had purchased approximately $18,000 worth of high-dollar firearms. Police later found the defendant at another firearms dealer. During questioning, the defendant admitted to straw purchasing firearms for another individual. He also acknowledged that he installed a Glock “switch,” which is a device that modifies a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic “machine pistol,” on a firearm in his home as well as possessing other switches. The defendant also admitted that he had modified an AR-style semiautomatic rifle into a fully automatic machine gun. Lewis waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 18. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 20 in Casper. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rock Springs Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00095
Riverton man found guilty of first-degree murder on the Wind River Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Burdick Nelson Seminole Sr., 59, of Riverton, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on Nov. 15 of first-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing death with a firearm during a crime of violence. The trial lasted four days before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl in Casper.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning of Aug. 8, 2023, Seminole drove to the victim’s residence, entered the residence without permission, confronted the victim and an argument ensued. The defendant left the residence to retrieve a pistol and re-entered the residence where he continued to argue with the victim, who was sitting in his wheelchair. Seminole pistol-whipped the victim, disarmed him, and shot him three times, killing him. In response, another resident shot at Seminole, hitting him in the back of the neck, causing him to flee. Seminole drove himself to the hospital and was diagnosed with a minor flesh wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.
Sentencing has been set for Feb. 6, 2025. Seminole faces mandatory life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and FBI investigated the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-CR-00017
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Drug Trafficking
Nadine Kay Niedo (Vasquez), 41, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in December 2023, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents conducted a controlled buy of 3.4 grams of methamphetamine from Vasquez for $120 at a store parking lot in Fort Washakie. She was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on Aug 14, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 12, in Cheyenne. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00082
Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Enik Dean Jenkins, aka Lawrence Jenkins, 32, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison with three years of supervised release for assault with a dangerous weapon. Based on court documents, the BIA Wind River Police Department and FBI responded to an assault at the Slattery Trailer Courts in St. Stephens. According to the victim, she was attempting to leave the residence and the defendant did not want her to leave so he hit her in the head with a hand-sized rock. Jenkins denied any involvement at first, but agents noticed blood spatter on his shirt and shorts. Blood tests confirmed the blood to be from the victim. Jenkins was indicted on May 17, 2023, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 13 in Cheyenne. The BIA Wind River Police Department and FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-CR-00101
Possession of an Unregistered Firearm
Stirling Lee Foster, 25, of Casper, Wyoming was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for the possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, the defendant’s mother called the police to her house on May 10, 2023, for reported drug activity. She informed officers that she found controlled substances and a firearm in Foster’s bedroom. The identified shotgun had been modified with a shortened barrel, the stock had been modified, and the serial number had been filed down rendering it illegible. The firearm was later identified as a .410 shotgun and the defendant had not registered it as required by the National Firearms Act. Police officers also found marijuana in his room. Foster was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023, pleaded guilty on Aug. 22, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 12, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Casper Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00154
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Cheyenne man sentenced to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Zachary James Hernandez, 43, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 27, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department responded to shots fired in the 800 block of West 6th Street in Cheyenne. According to witnesses, the defendant showed up at the residence and began firing shots before demanding that an occupant of the house come out. Once the occupant was out of the house, Hernandez forced her into his vehicle at gunpoint, pointed the gun at another witness, then drove off. Police located the vehicle nearby and initiated a traffic stop. Hernandez was arrested and officers located a Sig Sauer SP 2340 .40-caliber pistol in the vehicle. During questioning, Hernandez admitted to being a felon and to knowing that he was not allowed to possess a firearm.
Hernandez was indicted on July 19, 2023, and transferred to federal custody in June of 2024. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 21. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 14. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 23-CR-00101
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal Land Offenses
Joseph Aita, 62, of Colorado Springs, CO, was sentenced to 7 days in jail for walking off a designated trail or boardwalk in a thermal area within Yellowstone National Park. According to court documents, he entered the protected area of Canary Spring in Mammoth Hot Springs in the north area of the park with co-defendant Celia Aita and 2 minor children. He also pleaded guilty to destroying a mineral resource and for that violation, he was sentenced to five years of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time and a fine of $3,000. He will also pay $60 in mandatory court costs and fees in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted this case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 31, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Transient from Denver sentenced to 15 years on fentanyl and firearm chargesRead the Press Release
Derek Edward Lanctot, 38, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 31 in Casper, Wyoming.
According to court documents, on April 15, 2024, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) stopped a vehicle near mile marker 73 on Interstate 25. The trooper smelled an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and requested assistance for a search. The vehicle then fled and led troopers on a high-speed chase where it eventually wrecked, and all four occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody. During a subsequent search of the vehicle a stash book was found in the trunk. A stash book is a lock box designed to look like a book to disguise its contents. Over 600 grams of Fentanyl pills and a small pistol were located inside.
Lanctot was indicted on May 16 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 12. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and WHP investigated the crime. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-00058
Fort Washakie man sentenced for murder in the second degreeRead the Press Release
Ezekiel Frank James Ute, 23, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 192 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for second degree murder. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 31.
According to court documents, on Jan. 2, 2024, a group of five people, including Ezekiel Ute, were drinking alcohol and driving around the Wind River Indian Reservation when Ute began driving recklessly and saying he was going to intentionally wreck the car. When Ute stopped the car, one of the passengers (P1) got out and refused to get back in. The victim also got out to coax P1 back into the car. As they argued, Ute got out and stabbed the victim multiple times.
After the stabbing, Ute forced P1 back into the car then drove away, leaving the victim by the side of the road. The passengers urged Ute to turn around so they could help the victim. Ute eventually drove back, but as soon as P1 and another passenger (P2) got out of the car Ute sped off with the remaining passenger in the back seat. Despite P1 and P2’s attempts to save the victim, he died from his injuries the following morning. In addition to the passengers’ statements, Ute acknowledged during an interview that he may have stabbed the victim while under the influence of alcohol.
Ute was arrested on Jan. 4, indicted on March 13, and pleaded guilty on July 15. This crime was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-CR-00040
Colorado man convicted of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activityRead the Press Release
Gabriel Estrada, 30, of Denver, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The four-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
According to trial evidence, Estrada used a chat app to meet up with a 13-year-old persona for sexual intercourse. An undercover agent posed as a 13-year-old female, living in Laramie, Wyoming. Estrada messaged the 13-year-old persona asking if she would have sex with him. He went on to ask the 13-year-old persona if she had any friends that would like to join them in the sexual encounter and asked about her sexual experience. Estrada then drove the two hours from his home to Laramie after confirming the minor would engage in other sexual acts with him. Estrada arrived at the location, along with other physical evidence indicative of his intent to engage in sexual acts with the minor and an iPhone. The iPhone contained the text messages to the 13-year-old persona. Estrada testified that he made the decision to drive from his apartment in Denver to Laramie, even after the minor told him her age. Estrada said he did not believe she was actually 13.
Sentencing has been set for Jan. 13, 2025. Estrada faces 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, five years to life supervised release and a $100 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in both cases.
This crime was investigated by the Laramie Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Case No. CR-24-00033
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Tax Fraud
Pau Kim Ly, 52, of Jackson, Wyoming, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and four months of home confinement with one year of supervised release for filing a false tax return. The court also ordered Ly to pay a total of $371,803 in restitution to the IRS and the State of Wyoming and an additional $16,588 to the U.S. Government for the cost of prosecution. According to court documents, Ly was a part owner of Chinatown restaurant in Jackson and the person responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. For tax years 2019 through 2022, Ly knowingly underreported the restaurant’s true cash receipts to the IRS and the State of Wyoming. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation was responsible for investigating the crime. Ly waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July. 23. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 24 in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00096
Drug Trafficking
Roddeen Ingawanup, 56, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 35 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, during an investigation into drug trafficking on the Wind River Indian Reservation, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Ingawanup was involved in distributing controlled substances. A controlled purchase led to a search of the defendant’s residence resulting in a seizure of $12,535 in U.S. currency, 20 fentanyl pills, 50 grams of methamphetamine, and other drug related contraband. FBI and DCI Agents with the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Ingawanup was indicted on May 24 and pleaded guilty on July 24. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 22, in Casper. Case No. 24-00078
Firearm Offenses
Stephen Clifford Swingle, 45, of Evansville, Wyoming, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being in possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, Swingle was sentenced to three years of supervised probation in November 2023 for willfully injuring government property. Swingle violated the terms of his probation by failing multiple urinalysis tests so federal probation officers searched his home. During the search, they found two homemade, unregistered silencers. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Evansville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens prosecuted the case. Swingle pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 24, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00071
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Duo sentenced on drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming announced today that a drug trafficking case involving two people was recently closed with both parties being sentenced.
Dusty Harris, 42, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 142 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Harris’s co-conspirator, Thelma Faber, 45, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 57 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), while investigating drug trafficking in Fremont County, learned Harris sold controlled substances to enrolled members of the Eastern Shoshone and/or Northern Arapaho tribes on or around the Wind River Indian Reservation. In November 2023, agents learned that Harris was transporting drugs from Colorado to Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff’s Office deputies then stopped a vehicle driven by Harris near Shoshoni. Faber was his passenger. A search of the vehicle yielded a seizure of 94 grams of methamphetamine, 34 grams of fentanyl, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of the pair’s cell phones revealed a multitude of texts and social media messages being exchanged in late October 2023 through early November 2023 between Harris, Faber, and others regarding the distribution of controlled substances.
Harris and Faber were indicted on January 10 and pleaded guilty on May 9. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Harris on July 31 and Faber on October 21.
This crime was investigated by DCI and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Case No. 24-CR-00020
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces District Election Officer for General Election in WyomingRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann announced today that Executive Assistant United States Attorney (EAUSA) Stephanie Sprecher will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. Executive AUSA Stephanie Sprecher 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 election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
Acting U.S. Attorney Heimann said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, 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 interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act 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 inability to read or write in English).
Acting U.S. Attorney Heimann stated that, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, EAUSA/DEO Sprecher will be on duty in this District. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number (307) 261-5434."
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 1-800-CALLFBI.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.
Acting U.S. Attorney Heimann said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
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.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Federal Land Offenses
Michael A. Tunis, age 66 of West Yellowstone, Montana, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a 5-year period of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time, for a DUI per se and open container violation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 11, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Darrell C. Osterhout, age 63 of New Brighton, Minnesota, was sentenced to 7 days in jail and 1 year of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time, for DUI per se and interference with law enforcement functions. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 16, in Mammoth, Wyoming.
Production of Child Pornography
Robert Wayne Eaker, 38, of Boulder, Wyoming, was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison for production of child pornography with 15 years of supervised release. The court also ordered the defendant to pay $36,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, Eaker is a registered sex offender for prior offenses involving the sexual abuse of minors. In September 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force were conducting an online investigation for people sharing child pornography. Agents discovered a Wyoming IP address sharing numerous files of child pornography and traced it back to Eaker. Agents later received a search warrant for the house where he was living. Agents found Eaker had produced lewd and lascivious files of a child. Eaker admitted to producing the files without the child’s knowledge. In addition, investigators found hundreds of files of child pornography containing prepubescent children on multiple devices belonging to Eaker. DCI-ICAC investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Eaker was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 25, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 16, in Cheyenne.
Drug and Firearm Offenses
Brady Mitchell, 33, a transient, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 13, Cheyenne Police Officers contacted Mitchell who was asleep in his van in a gas station parking lot. During questioning, officers saw a hatchet under his seat and smelled marijuana. They asked him to step out of his van so they could secure the weapon and conduct a search. Officers found a .22 revolver on Mitchell and approximately 12 ounces of marijuana, 3.31 grams of Xanax, 3.75 grams of fentanyl, and 1.13 grams of methamphetamine in his van. Mitchell is a previously convicted felon and not allowed to possess a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Mitchell was indicted on April 13, pleaded guilty on July 11, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 15, in Cheyenne.
llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Luis Barajas-Morales, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days for deportation for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 26, Barajas-Morales was arrested by the Teton County Sheriff’s Department for the charge of contempt of court. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Barajas-Morales was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in December 2003. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 15, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00106.About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
U. S. Attorney’s Office Announces Nearly $1.5 Million in Grants for Domestic Violence and Victims Services During Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming joins the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) in announcing $1,483,668 in domestic violence and victim services grants to combat intimate partner violence and assist victims of violence, survivors, and their families in Wyoming. This comes as the nation observes October as Domestic Awareness Month.
Domestic violence is prevalent in nearly every Wyoming community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, two-spirit people, and people with disabilities.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to remind the community that the Office is committed to working with the community to ensure that victims and survivors can find safety and justice. The Office collaborates with local partners year-round to strengthen Wyoming’s awareness of available resources, prevent domestic violence and hold offenders accountable.
The following grants were awarded to Wyoming recipients by the Office on Violence Against Women:The Attorney General of Wyoming received $833,657 for the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. It was authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community based, culturally specific services, in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This grant will help support the designated special prosecutor in Fremont County announced in September.
The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault was awarded $367,379 for the OVW State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program. This grant supports coordinating victim services activities, collaborating and coordinating with federal, state, territory, and local entities engaged in violence against women activities.The following grant was awarded by the Office of Justice Program and the Office for Victims of Crime:
The Northern Arapaho Tribe was awarded $282,632 for the OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) Formula Program. This grant will be used to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions. This aligns with the Congressional intent for the set-aside from the Crime Victims Fund, which was created in 2018 to improve services for victims of crime in Tribal communities.The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle and are not a comprehensive list of all grants awarded in Wyoming. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Gregory James Griffin, 41, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography – subsequent offense. According to court documents, in September 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began receiving CyberTips involving a phone number belonging to Griffin. A search warrant resulted in the seizure of the defendant’s phone identified during the investigation. Over 60 files of child pornography were located on his phone. Griffin had a previous conviction for possession of child pornography out of California in 2010 and is a registered sex offender in the state of Wyoming. This crime was investigated by the DCI-ICAC Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold. Griffin was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 16, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 8, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00062
Drug Trafficking
James P. Graham, 64, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Dec. 17, 2023, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) conducted a traffic stop on Graham, who had a warrant for his arrest. The trooper deployed his K9 partner on Graham’s vehicle and the dog obtained a positive alert. Graham had over 165 grams of methamphetamine, packaging, and drug paraphernalia. A forensic download of Graham’s phone indicated he was a source of supply for methamphetamine. Graham waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 9. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 1, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and WHP investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00092
Robert Allen Yetsick, aka Ryan Kelp, 36, a transient, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to the Days Inn for a welfare check where they found the defendant unresponsive in his room. Upon entering, Cheyenne Fire and Rescue found hypodermic needles, a plastic bag containing approximately 45 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic container containing 3.41 grams of heroin, and a small amount of marijuana. After a search of Yetsick’s phone, officers found messages requesting ¼ pound of methamphetamine from him and wanting to trade pills for methamphetamine. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and CPD. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood. Yetsick was indicted on May 20, pleaded guilty on July 15, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 3, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00059
Preston James Castor, 23, of Sundance, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Feb. 15, the Riverton Police Department (RPD) pulled over Castor for crossing over the fog line with the vehicle’s passenger side, in Riverton. Dispatch advised that Castor had an active South Dakota Fugitive warrant. He was placed under arrest and a subsequent search of his vehicle conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), recovered 3.5 Kilograms of cocaine, 20.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, a money counter, a small number of unknown pills, and $1,600.00 in U.S. Currency. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DCI and RPD. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood. Castor was indicted on May 20, pleaded guilty on July 19, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 4, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00061
Drug and Firearm Offenses
Quinton James Fisher, 21, of Evansville, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 18, a special agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a tip that Fisher was selling drugs out of a hotel room in Evansville. Fisher had been on their radar for some time. A search of Fisher’s room yielded approximately 2.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,730 fentanyl pills, smaller amounts of crack cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, drug packaging and scales, $4,500 in U.S. currency, three semi-automatic rifles and one semi-automatic handgun. DCI and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Fisher waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 1. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence of Oct. 3, in Casper. Case No. 24-00091
Firearm Offenses
Andrew Lee Kirkendall, 46, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Sept. 5, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to the American Legion Post 6 for reports of shots fired. Witnesses pointed to the defendant but when an officer tried to approach Kirkendall, he ran away. A foot pursuit with additional CPD officers and the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) ensued. Multiple citizens called into dispatch detailing the defendant’s location and that he was brandishing his firearm at citizens on the street. Officers caught up with Kirkendall and deployed a taser to immobilize him. They found a loaded Ruger SR9C 9mm caliber pistol on his person. Kirkendall, a convicted felon is unable to legally possess a firearm. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, CPD, and WHP. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer. Kirkendall was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023, pleaded guilty on July 12, and the sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on Oct. 3, in Casper. Case No. 23-CR-00152
Escape from Custody
Anthony James Kelley, 33, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for escaping from custody. According to court documents, on March 11, Kelley walked out of the Volunteers of America (VOA), Re-entry Center in Gillette where he was serving a custodial sentence. Kelley knew that if he left the facility without authorization, he would be charged with escape. On March 15, The Evansville Police Department were dispatched to the C’mon Inn in Evansville for a suspicious person. An officer located Kelley and took him into custody. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Office and the case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison. Kelley was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 16, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 8, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-0067
llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Tulio Arnulfo Garcia-Salazar, 42, of Morales, Izabel, Guatemala, was sentenced to time served for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on March 19, 2024, Garcia-Salazar was arrested by the Rock Springs Police Department for driving under the influence of alcohol, hit and run, maintaining a single lane, and no insurance. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Garcia-Salazar was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in May 2018. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 30. Case No. 24-CR-00074About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Casper man sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Jashawn Michael Lee Crowley, 27, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 115 months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm. He was ordered to serve his sentence consecutive to the 7-to-10-year sentence imposed in State of Wyoming v. Crowley, docket number 23167-C and 23168-C for theft, conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit forgery, eluding, property destruction, and interference and concurrent to his 8-to-10-year sentence in State of Wyoming v. Crowley, docket number 2315, for auto burglary, theft, and aggravated eluding.
According to court documents, on March 17, 2023, the defendant was pulled over in Casper during a traffic stop and had in his possession a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun. Crowley had an extensive criminal history, including at least two prior convictions for drug felonies and knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm. The defendant also acknowledged the firearm he possessed was stolen, not manufactured in Wyoming, and traveled across state lines to enter his possession.
Crowley was indicted on May 10, 2023, and pleaded guilty on July 12, 2024. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 3. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, Please visit
Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 23-CR-00105Dubois couple sentenced for tax fraudRead the Press Release
Tammy Bushnell, 59, and Scott Bushnell, 64, of Dubois, Wyoming, were sentenced yesterday to eight months of home confinement with three years of probation for conspiracy to defraud the United States by underreporting gross income and filing a false tax return.
According to court documents, the Bushnells owned and operated Trails End Guns and Trails End Motel in Dubois. During the 2017 through 2021 tax years, the Bushnells failed to provide all their gross receipts to their CPA and inflated some expenses, thus understating their tax liability for those years. The investigation began in 2021 when the couple listed the motel for sale. Undercover agents posed as potential buyers and were provided with financial statements that reflected substantially more receipts and profits for both businesses than what was reported on the couple’s tax returns. In furtherance of the conspiracy to defraud, the couple routinely destroyed business documents that would reveal true cash receipts and submitted false business records/reports to their accountant.
“Scott and Tammy Bushnell had many chances to correctly report their income; however, they instead used a variety of tactics to conceal income and falsify business expenses,” said Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “Tax evasion will continue to be a priority for IRS-CI and we will aggressively pursue those who do not comply with their income tax obligations.”
Both defendants waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information earlier in the year. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentences and ordered the defendants to pay $122,112.46 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and $57,882 to the State of Wyoming. They were both fined $13,161 by the court as well. This crime was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Case No. for Tammy Bushnell: 24-CR-00052; Case No. for Scott Bushnell: 24-00090.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Recent SentencingsRead the Press Release
Drug Trafficking
Amanda Rose Brown, 40, of Riverton, Wyoming was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Sept. 26, 2023, agents conducted a controlled buy of 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from Brown for $150 on the Wind River Indian Reservation. A review of Brown's Facebook account showed she was contacted by multiple parties looking for "blues" (fentanyl) and either she had them or sought to get them; she also advised she had methamphetamine and could get "bud". She was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 1, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 26, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00081Firearm Offenses
John Otis Marsh, 57, of Wamsutter, Wyoming was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment with two years of supervised, release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, on June 8, 2022, deputies were called to a Love's convenience store in Wamsutter to investigate an injured man. The victim said he was threatened with a gun, punched, and dragged by a man who shared a trailer with Marsh. The victim stayed, with the permission from Marsh, in a camper across the road, on Marsh’s land. The investigation led the deputies to the trailer where they found multiple guns and ammunition. Both Marsh and his roommate are convicted felons and unlawfully possessed the firearms. Marsh was indicted on July 19, 2023 and pleaded guilty on July 12. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 25. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigate the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00099Littlefawn Lebeau, 41, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Dec. 23, 2023, law enforcement was called to Lander Sage West Hospital for a report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The defendant denied she had shot herself in the foot at first because she knew she was a felon and illegally possessed the firearm, but later admitted to the accident. She was indicted on Jan. 4, pleaded guilty on July 12, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 25, in Cheyenne. This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 24-CR-00018
Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Jesus Montano-Martinez, 32, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 20, Montano-Martinez was arrested by Wyoming Highway Patrol in Carbon County for driving under the influence of alcohol and not having valid immigration documents permitting him to be in the U.S. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Montano-Martinez was in the U.S. illegally. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 24, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00127
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.
To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
U.S. Attorney’s Office to work with Fremont County to reduce domestic violenceRead the Press Release
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming will be working closely with the Fremont County Attorney’s Office to prosecute gun crimes related to domestic violence. This comes as the U.S. Department of Justice designated Fremont County, along with 78 other communities across the United States, as communities that could benefit from increased intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders. This designation is made under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, also known as VAWA.
“The VAWA designation of Fremont County allows for a state prosecutor to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney who can then prosecute gun crimes in federal court,” explained Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “This partnership will allow for the federal prosecution of appropriate domestic violence offenders prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms. Prosecution of federal gun crimes committed by these offenders will result in significant prison sentences, which will make Fremont County safer by removing these violent offenders from the community and deterring others from unlawfully possessing or using guns.”
Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun remarked, “This partnership will greatly increase options available to Fremont County law enforcement in deterring violent domestic batterers from possessing firearms and escalating levels of violence. Local law enforcement is the front line defender fighting this scourge in Fremont County. And with this designation, the option of additional prosecution resources and stricter punishment for the appropriate offender will be a telephone call away.”
The VAWA designation and partnership between the Fremont County Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Justice Department program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and in support of the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
Arapahoe woman sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for child abuseRead the Press Release
Kandace Sitting Eagle, 34, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment for aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weapon. These crimes arose from abuse of Sitting Eagle’s 13-year-old child.
According to trial evidence and statements made at the sentencing, Kandace Sitting Eagle and her husband, Truman Sitting Eagle, who was sentenced to 108 months in prison in August 2024, abused the child for weeks in late 2023. The abuse included beatings with a metal rod, isolation, and starvation. A school resource officer discovered the abuse during a welfare check made after the child had not been to school in over a month. During the visit, Kandace and Truman repeatedly lied to the officer regarding the whereabouts and welfare of the child. The officer eventually found the child in a crawl space under the Sitting Eagles’ trailer where his parents were hiding him.
Kandace Sitting Eagle was indicted on Jan. 12, 2024, and convicted by a federal jury on June 13, after a four-day trial. In addition to the 121 months in prison, the sentence includes five years of supervised release and $33,000 in restitution to Wyoming Medicaid for medical expenses related to the victim’s care. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 24, in Cheyenne.
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wind River Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Recent SentencingsRead the Press Release
Crimes on Public Lands
Curtis Jeffery, age 27, from Socorro, New Mexico, was sentenced to 10 days incarceration with credit for 3 days served for assaulting a Xanterra co-worker by pushing her head into a wall. He was also convicted of a second count of assault on a second individual and being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him a danger to others. In addition to the term of incarceration he was sentenced to five years of unsupervised probation. His terms of probation include that he not be permitted to enter Yellowstone National Park during his term of probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 11, in Mammoth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case.
Clarence Yoder, 40, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty to three separate charges last week. The first offense was for intentionally disturbing bison for which he was sentenced to a ten-day term of incarceration with credit for two days served and was fined $3,000. He also pleaded guilty to being under the influence of alcohol to a degree that rendered him a danger to himself and others and was fined $200. Finally, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $250. Yoder was placed on two years of unsupervised probation. He is not permitted to enter Yellowstone National Park during his term of probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 10, in Mammoth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficking
Christopher Isgrigg, 38, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 11, 2024, Cheyenne Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Ford sedan belonging to the driver identified as Isgrigg. During the traffic stop, another officer arrived on scene with his narcotics certified canine which alerted to the presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle. Approximately 600 grams of methamphetamine and 34.2 grams of suspected fentanyl pills were located inside sedan. Isgrigg was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 2, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 19. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-0060
Bank Robbery
Roosevelt Rashaud Keys, 27, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 27 months for bank robbery and aiding and abetting, with three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Oct. 14, 2023, an ATM robbery occurred at a financial institution in Jackson, Wyoming. Several male hooded and masked subjects stole ATM cash cassettes containing U.S. currency while a service repair technician was attempting to repair the ATM. Keys was later stopped for a traffic violation and the deputy was able to gain his personal information, travel plans, and rental car agreement. Further investigation determined that Keys and his vehicle matched the description of one of the bank robbers. Keys was ultimately arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on unrelated charges. A search warrant was authorized for Keys’ cell phone and revealed photographs taken on Oct. 14, 2023 showing Keys with bundles of U.S. Currency. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Sept. 12, in Cheyenne. The FBI and Jackson Police department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00019
llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Isamar Tellez-Blancas, 24, of Tlaxacala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 12, Tellez-Blancas was arrested by Teton County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence of alcohol, no driver’s license, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Tellez-Blancas was in the U.S. illegally. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 4. Case No. 24-CR-00109Hilario Mendoza-Rodriguez, 39, of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to time served for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on July 13, 2023, Mendoza-Rodriguez was arrested by the Rock Springs Police Department for assault and battery causing injury. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Mendoza-Rodriguez was in the U.S. illegally. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 19. Case No. 24-CR-00036
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Casper man sentenced to 90 months on a federal firearm offenseRead the Press Release
Frank Ray Berris, 53, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Berris was convicted of this crime at a jury trial in June 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 20, in Cheyenne.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 3, a Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) trooper conducted a traffic stop, near Casper, on a black Ford Explorer being driven by Berris. The defendant, who considers himself a “sovereign citizen,” was driving with fictitious license plates that said, “United States of America Republic Diplomat Foreign National” and “UCC1-308.” Berris was unable to provide proof of a valid driver’s license, insurance, or registration to the trooper. While talking with Berris, the trooper noticed a pistol in a holster between Berris and the console and an AR-style rifle between the console and the passenger seat. The traffic stop escalated into three-hour standoff where the defendant refused to exit his car and told officers they would have to kill him. Berris eventually surrendered and was arrested.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Berris’s vehicle and seized a semiautomatic rifle, two semiautomatic pistols, and ammunition of various calibers. Berris was a felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At the sentencing hearing, the government showed that Berris had been uncooperative, threatened law enforcement, and possessed firearms during two previous traffic stops.
“Mr. Berris has repeatedly refused to recognize that he is required to follow the law just like everyone else,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “His arrogance, threats, and unlawful possession of guns put the defendant, law enforcement officers, and the general public in harm’s way. The prison sentence in this case delivers a clear message that no one is above the law, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute felons who unlawfully possess firearms.”
Berris was indicted by a grand jury and pleaded not guilty to the charges in March 2024. Berris represented himself at trial.
WHP, Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and Mills Police Department responded to the scene and special agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this crime. Assistant United States Attorney Mackenzie Morrison and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher prosecuted the 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 24-00034
Boyfriend of missing Cody woman is sentenced to 87 months in federal prisonRead the Press Release
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann announced today that the Cody man whose girlfriend disappeared while the couple and their two children were returning from Alabama in October of 2023, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Adam Shane Aviles, Jr., age 26, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Based on evidence presented by the government at the sentencing hearing, Judge Johnson found that Aviles unlawfully possessed the ammunition in connection with the voluntary manslaughter of Katheryn Ferguson. She was reported missing in October 2023 and is presumed dead.
Aviles was arrested in early November 2023, after the Park County Sheriff’s Office found bullet holes, a fully loaded .45 caliber magazine and ammunition, and numerous blood-stained items inside his vehicle. Aviles is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Aviles was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 15, 2023 and he pleaded guilty on Jun. 14.
“Today’s sentence is a product of close cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors. We hope the sentence provides a measure of justice, however partial, for the loss of Katheryn Ferguson to her children and her family,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “This case is a sad reminder that felons cannot be trusted with firearms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute gun crimes to help make the people of Wyoming safer.”
This crime was investigated by the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Case No. 23-CR-00161
Man sentenced for possessing machinegunsRead the Press Release
Steven Shobert, 49, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 28 to 18 months in prison for possession of machineguns in violation of federal law.
According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2023, Shobert was arrested for driving under the influence. He had a holstered firearm on his hip and surrendered it to the officers. A state judge imposed bond conditions requiring Shobert to relinquish his firearms pending the DUI case. Shobert consented to a search of his residence to gather his firearms. The search resulted in the discovery of one Glock model 17, which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device commonly called a “Glock Switch.” Law enforcement also found three AR-15 type machinegun conversion devices.
Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann explained, “Machinegun conversion devices like auto sears and ‘Glock switches’ can make a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun, so they are considered machineguns under federal law. Possession of these dangerous devices is a serious crime which can result in a felony conviction and federal prison time. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove illegal machineguns from Wyoming communities.”
Shobert was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 18-month prison sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom.
The crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office.
Case no. 23-00153
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Crimes on Public Lands
Jose Donaire-Duarte, age 21, from Spain, was sentenced to seven days incarceration for simple assault and two years of unsupervised probation for disorderly conduct. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to the charging documents, while leaving a social event in the Mammoth Hot Springs concession area, hosted by Xanterra the concessionaire for Yellowstone Nation Park, an intoxicated Donaire-Duarte began sexually harassing the victim. He grabbed the victim around the waist, held her tightly against him and grabbed her buttocks repeatedly. The victim felt afraid, broke away from Donaire-Duarte and began to run. He pursued the victim, grabbed her by both shoulders, preventing her from running and pulled her close to him again. Upon arrival at the dormitory where both resided, Donaire-Duarte followed the victim to her room, where he climbed on top of her in bed, with his chest on her chest and his arms on either side of the victim, while repeating the victim’s name. A third party arrived in the victim’s room, at which point Donaire-Duarte left. The crime was investigated by the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. Case No. L:24-PO-00670-SAH-1
Firearm Offenses
James Herman Bell, 51, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to be imprisoned until May 5, 2025 and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 28. According to court documents, Bell was seen by employees stealing ammunition from a store in Riverton. The Riverton Police Department (RPD) were dispatched and given descriptions of two men. RPD located the men a few blocks away. They each turned over items they had taken without paying, including Bell who had a 20-round box of .358 rifle ammunition. Bell is convicted felon and is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition. Bell was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 31. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, RPD, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Case No. 23-CR-00162
Sexual Abuse
Skyler Sven Quiver, 29, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a person incapable of consent. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 29. According to court documents, a minor victim reported a rape in June 2012. At that time, she could not identify the person who raped her because she was extremely intoxicated. A rape examination detected semen and although the DNA did not match a prior male subject, it was kept on file. In 2021, a routine search of the FBI Combined DNA Index System (“CODIS”) database indicated a possible DNA association between biological evidence collected from the minor victim and a newly convicted offender, the defendant. Quiver was interviewed and admitted to having sex with victim and when asked if it was possible she was too intoxicated to give consent, he said, “yes.” This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore. Case No. 24-CR-00015
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Lander man sentenced on methamphetamine and fentanyl chargesRead the Press Release
Brennon Scott, 25, of Lander, Wyoming was sentenced Aug. 20, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Feb. 2, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Scott after witnessing him swerve and drive over the fog line. Officers could see drug paraphernalia in plain view and Scott appeared to be impaired. A search of the vehicle recovered approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, one fentanyl pill, baggies commonly used in the distribution of controlled substances, and a digital scale with methamphetamine residue on it. Scott was arrested and initially charged through the Fremont County Attorney's Office.
Scott was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 12, and pleaded guilty on May 3.
This crime was investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Case No. 24-CR-00041
Cheyenne felon sentenced for being in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
Juan Manuel Miranda, 52, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 21, to 88 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Oct. 31, 2023, Cheyenne Police Department officers responded to the 1800 block of Rainbow Road for a "shots fired" disturbance. Witnesses said that Miranda shot at an unknown male and then drove away. Officers pursued Miranda and during the pursuit, he threw a pistol out of his vehicle into the driveway of a business. Miranda eventually stopped his car, and officers arrested him. Officers later recovered the 9mm pistol that Miranda had tossed out of his car. A criminal history report indicated Miranda is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Miranda was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm on Jan. 10, 2023, and pleaded guilty on May 28. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the 88-month sentence.
“The Justice Department is committed to reducing violent crime by aggressively prosecuting violent criminals who illegally possess guns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “This case shows how federal, state, and local law enforcement in Wyoming can work together to win a significant prison sentence against a violent felon, and make the Cheyenne community safer. We thank the Cheyenne Police Department and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation for their good work, and for referring this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution.”
“This is an excellent example of agencies coming together to protect our Wyoming communities,” said Chief Mark Francisco. “We’re proud that this collaboration resulted in a successful prosecution.”
This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Criminal Division Chief Nicole Romine with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Case No. 24-CR-00011
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Bankruptcy Fraud Scheme
Peter Szanto, 73, of Oceanside, California, was sentenced to time served (two days), three years of supervised release, a $7,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment for bankruptcy fraud scheme. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on August 21. According to court documents, the defendant engaged in a nine-year scheme to defraud JPMorgan Chase by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, in order to hinder and obstruct the lawful foreclosure of his Newport Beach, California home, valued at approximately $4.5 million, through the repeated misuse of the U.S. bankruptcy courts, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming. Szanto was indicted in July 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 10. This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Violent Crime
John Darwin Whiteman, 34, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 57 month’s imprisonment and ordered by the court to pay $5,301.40 in restitution and a $100 special assessment for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. According to court documents, he and a companion had been drinking when an argument ensued and turned violent. The victim’s injuries consisted of significant bruising across the body, swollen eyes and lips; a broken tooth; a broken nose; a broken left orbital socket; red marks and bruising around the neck; a burn on the back; various lacerations; and human bite marks on the arm and leg. This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore.
Child Sexual Assault Material
Kevin Snyder, 36, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography with a life term of supervised release. The court ordered him to pay $12,000 in restitution and $200 in special assessments. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on August 20. According to court documents, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force was contacted by staff members at the Casper Re-Entry Center for an inmate who they believed was accessing child pornography on his phone. Their investigation concluded that he had downloaded approximately 2,600 files of child sexual assault materials involving lewd and lascivious acts, sadomasochism, and bestiality. This crime was investigated by the ICAC task force and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
Ben Murray, 58, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on August 12. According to court documents, on April 7, 2023, Aurora Police Department in Colorado issued an arrest warrant for Murray for failure to register. Wyoming Fugitive Task Force received information that Murray was residing in Cheyenne. Murray is an unregistered sex offender and has not registered in Wyoming or any other jurisdiction since February 2020. He waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on May 14. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison.
Delray James Quiver, 46, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced on Aug. 19, to 26 months in federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, on Jan. 17, Quiver was released from custody and was required to register within three business days of his release from jail. The U.S. Marshal’s office advised that as of March 5, Quiver had not registered or updated his registration anywhere in Wyoming or anywhere that reports to the federal sex offender database. He was indicted on March 13, and pleaded guilty on May 28. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Enrique Gomez-Salazar, 34, of San Luis, Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on May 10, Gomez-Salazar was arrested by the Rawlins Police Department for driving while under the influence. He was booked into the Carbon County Jail. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained his fingerprints. They matched pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating he had previously been deported. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 13.
Martin Avina-Gonzalez, 34, of Fresnillo, Zaxatecas, Mexico, was sentenced to 104 days in prison and then his deportation proceedings will begin, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on May 3, Avina-Gonzales was arrested by the Evanston Police Department for strangulation of a household member, domestic battery, stalking, and violation of a protection order. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained his fingerprints. They matched pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating he had previously been deported. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 21
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Fort Washakie man sentenced for assault with a golf clubRead the Press Release
Aaron Clair Bigknife, age 58, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on August 6 in Cheyenne.
According to the complaint filed in the case, Bigknife was at a friend’s house playing cards on the night of August 27, 2023, when he hit one of his friends in the head with a golf club. The attack was unprovoked. When detectives interviewed Bigknife he admitted to drinking heavily before arriving at his friend’s house and continued to drink when he got there. He claimed to not remember anything that happened until he was arrested by the police.
This crime was investigated by the FBI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore.
Case No. 23-CR-00134
Arapahoe man sentenced to nine years in federal prison for aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weaponRead the Press Release
Truman Sitting Eagle, 36, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to reimburse Medicaid of Wyoming over $33,000 in medical expenses for the victim’s care. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 6 in Cheyenne.
According to statements provided at the hearing, Truman and his wife, Kandace Sitting Eagle, abused their child for months beginning in at least October and lasting until December 12, 2023 when an Arapahoe school resource officer conducted a welfare check on a 13-year-old student that had not been to school in over a month. He eventually found the child in a crawl space under the trailer where the parents, Kandace and Truman Sitting Eagle, were hiding the child. Truman had repeatedly lied to the resource officer and Wind River Police Department regarding the whereabouts and welfare of the child. The investigation proved that the child had suffered weeks of physical beatings with a metal rod and other instruments, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse at the hands of Kandace and Truman. Judge Johnson increased the sentence from the advisory guideline range of 70 to 87 months to 108 months based on Truman’s extensive criminal history, the severity of the abuse, and the impact of the abuse on the victim and the rest of the five children in the home.
Kandace Sitting Eagle was convicted by a federal jury on June 13 after a four-day trial. Her sentencing is set for August 29, and she faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in that case.
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.
Case No. 24-CR-03
Laramie man sentenced for distribution of fentanylRead the Press Release
Tristan Chase Eickbush, 27, of Laramie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, Cheyenne Police Officers responded to 305 Storey Boulevard in Cheyenne for a report of a deceased person. On the premises, investigators found numerous small, round, blue pills, marked with “M” on one side and “30” on the other side. The pills resembled legitimate prescription medication, but subsequent testing showed that they were counterfeit and contained illicit fentanyl. An autopsy concluded that the deceased person died from fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that Eickbush sold the decedent illicit fentanyl pills on March 3, 2023, but claimed that the pills were legitimate oxycodone pills.
Eickbush was charged with drug distribution on May 6 and pleaded guilty on May 13. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Aug. 1.
“This case is a stark reminder that one pill can kill, and drug dealers cannot be trusted to tell the truth about what they are selling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “Cooperation between local, state and federal authorities enabled us to successfully prosecute this case, punish this drug dealer, and provide some measure of justice for this tragic and unnecessary overdose death.”
“The distribution of dangerous drugs has no place in our community,” said Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco. “We will continue working with our state and federal partners to hold dealers accountable - every counterfeit pill we get off the street is a potential life saved.”
This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Case No. 24-CR-00054
Lander man arraigned on drug trafficking and firearm offensesRead the Press Release
Jason Trimmer, 47, of Lander, Wyoming, was arraigned on August 1, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Trimmer pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for Oct. 7, before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
The Safe Trails Task Force, led by the FBI, executed a search warrant on Trimmer’s residence and seized more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, over 32 grams of fentanyl, and 14 firearms. This task force investigates drug trafficking on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and in surrounding communities, with an emphasis on stopping the distribution of fentanyl. In addition to the FBI, task force members include the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Riverton Police Department, and the Lander Police Department.
If convicted, Trimmer faces 10 years to life imprisonment plus five years of consecutive imprisonment if found guilty of being in possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, he will serve no less than five years to life of supervised release and may be fined up to $11.5 million on top of the $400 assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No. 24-CR-00118
Casper man receives 200 months in prison for multiple drug and firearm offenses, including possession of a machinegunRead the Press Release
Albert Rueben Gaines, 31, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, in January 2023, DCI agents began receiving information that Gaines was involved in the use and distribution of controlled substances throughout the state of Wyoming. In June of 2023, several incidents occurred that led to the arrest of Gaines and the seizure of 11 guns, multiple rounds and calibers of ammunition and magazines, approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 62 grams (600 pills) of fentanyl, and approximately $11,000 in cash. Amongst the 11 seized firearms, law enforcement seized a Glock, model 17 that had been modified with a Glock switch conversion device. The Glock switch converted the semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun.
Gaines was indicted on July 19, 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 14. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 31. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Casper Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes the illegal possession of firearms very seriously. Tracking down the sale, use, and possession of machine gun conversion devices is one of our top priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “Possession of these extremely dangerous devices is against federal law and our office will continue to vigorously prosecute these violations.”
“I would like to recognize the outstanding work and continued cooperative relationship between our office, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Casper Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Brad Reinhart, V41 Special Agent/Team Leader, Central Enforcement Team, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
“Gaines, a previously convicted felon, was found in possession of multiple firearms, including stolen ones, firearm parts, and a machine gun,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “While armed he was also trafficking meth and fentanyl into the Casper community. This violent criminal will now serve more than 16 years in federal prison due to the incredible collaborative work of the Casper Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the ATF Cheyenne Field Office.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN
Gillette man sentenced to 125 months for drug and firearm offensesRead the Press Release
Giovanny Bustamante Ibarra, 21, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 125 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on Feb. 28, a Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 Hyundai with Arizona license plates driven by Giovanny Bustamante Ibarra for expired registration. There were two other passengers in the vehicle. During the stop, the Trooper deployed his narcotics detection K9 partner who indicated to the presence of controlled substances within the vehicle.
A subsequent search inside of the vehicle revealed approximately 491 grams of cocaine, three rifles (two short barreled rifles), two handguns and a suppressor that could be threaded onto one of the handguns. One handgun was readily accessible, loaded and located between the driver’s seat and console. The driver, Giovanny Bustamante Ibarra, claimed ownership of the drugs and firearms. In addition, he participated in a post-Miranda interview admitting his intention to sell the cocaine in Gillette. He was born and raised in the Phoenix area but moved to Gillette in October of 2023.
Bustamante Ibarra was charged by complaint on March 5, indicted by a federal grand jury on March 13, and pleaded guilty on April 25. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on July 22.
This crime was investigated by the WHP, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Casper man arraigned for transportation of a minor, pleads not guiltyRead the Press Release
James Warren Martin, 38, of Casper, Wyoming, was arraigned on July 19, for transportation of a minor, in violation of federal law. Martin pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for Sept. 23, 2024, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
The State of Wyoming has also charged Martin with 17 felonies, including numerous allegations of sexual assault of a minor and sexual exploitation of children. These counts stem from assaults allegedly perpetrated upon the same victim as in this case. As indicated by a notice filed by the Natrona County District Attorney’s office in the state case, the state and federal prosecutions are proceeding in tandem.
If convicted, Martin faces 10 years to life imprisonment with five years to life of supervised release and up to a $5,000 assessment for Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime is being investigated by the FBI, Casper Police Department and the La Paz County Arizona Sheriff’s Office. The case is being federally prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No. 23-CR-00005
Arapahoe man is sentenced for assault by strangulationRead the Press Release
Daniel Anthony Whiteplume, 26, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for assault by strangulation. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 10, 2024.
According to court documents, on September 6, 2022, Whiteplume was receiving a ride to an uncle’s house due to his intoxication. During the ride, he became angry and jerked the steering wheel of the moving car. The driver was near the uncle’s house and pulled over. Whiteplume began beating and then strangling the victim, who was the driver. The victim was later taken to the hospital and contacted by the Wind River Police Department. Special agents and victim services personnel with the FBI were also brought in to assist with the investigation. They observed injuries consistent with the victim’s account of the incident. Whiteplume pleaded guilty to the charge on March 30, 2023.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted this case. Case No. 22-CR-00142
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Drug Trafficking
Martin Anthony Martinez, Jr., 32, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jul. 9. Based on court documents, beginning in June 2023, Martinez came to the attention of Task Force Officers with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) when Martinez kept coming up during investigative interviews. On Jul. 5, 2023, a state search warrant was executed on his property which resulted in the seizure of approximately 4,000 fentanyl pills, 16 grams of methamphetamine, and a loaded Glock 32 semiautomatic handgun. Martinez pleaded guilty to the charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on Mar. 24. This case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood.
Victor Paul Gonzalez Brizo, 41, of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jul. 12. According to court documents, in the Spring of 2023, Task Force Officers (TFOs) with the DEA were investigating a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in the Cheyenne area. TFOs learned that a gray Chevrolet Cruze driven by a Hispanic male, who was later identified as the defendant, was the courier. On Nov. 3, 2023, the DEA obtained a search warrant, and with assistance from the Thornton Police Department, arrested Brizo outside of his residence in Thornton, Colorado. During the search, investigators located and seized a large quantity of U.S. currency, approximately 2,800 fentanyl pills, 106 grams of methamphetamine, 39 grams of heroin, suspected drug ledgers, and packaging with drug residue. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Public Land Offenses
Braden Kyle Winters, 34, of Grand Junction, Colorado, was sentenced to seven days in jail and fined $1,500 plus court costs for driving under the influence. In addition, he received two years of unsupervised probation and a ban from Yellowstone National Park, for the same period, for failure to comply with a traffic control device. According to the citation, Winters was observed by a U.S. Park Ranger getting into his vehicle with an open can of beer in his hand. He then drove the vehicle away from a parking lot, driving with the passenger side tires approximately 1.5 feet over the fog line. He had four passengers in the vehicle with him, three of which were minors. Standard Field Sobriety Tests performed by the Rangers yielded results suggestive of alcohol impairment. Winters provided a breath sample on the Intoxilizer 9000 with a result of .123. This crime was investigated by the National Park Service and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.
Drug Trafficking
Deangela Jordawn Stewart, 31, and Chad Nathan Stewart, 51, of Casper, Wyoming, were each sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jul. 3 and Jul. 5, respectively. According to court documents, in August 2023, the Central Enforcement Team of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) identified several distributors of controlled substances in Natrona County, including the Stewarts. When agents attempted to make a controlled buy at the Stewart’s residence, they witnessed a minor present during the transaction and immediately obtained a search warrant. They seized 1.7 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 fentanyl pills. Deangela pleaded guilty on Apr. 11 and Chad pleaded guilty on Apr. 17. This crime was investigated by the DCI, and the case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ava Covert.
Escape from Custody
Wolfe Jon Taylor Willow, 39, of Crowheart, Wyoming, was sentenced to 19 months’ imprisonment for escape from custody. According to court documents, on Jan. 16, the defendant was scheduled to report to the Casper Re-Entry Center after serving a sentence in Victorville, California for failure to register as a sex offender. Willow did not show up in Casper and did not alert anyone to his whereabouts. He turned himself in to the Wind River Police Department 12 days later. Willow pleaded guilty on Apr. 10. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jul. 3. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Marshal Service, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Robert Loren Blanton, 38, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 18. The defendant pleaded guilty on Mar. 20. This crime was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
Firearm Offenses
Donald Ray McIntosh, 39, of Mills, Wyoming, was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 16. According to court documents, on May 26, 2023, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a controlled purchase of a gun from McIntosh, who was at the time a convicted felon. The defendant pleaded guilty on Mar. 20. This crime was investigated by DCI and ATF, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Richard McCloskey, 36, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 95 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun. 26. According to court documents, in August 2023, a Federal Firearm Licensee who was travelling in Wyoming, reported someone broke into his vehicle and stole three firearms including a 9mm pistol, an MP7 machine gun, and a suppressor. In addition, he reported that $40,000 worth of gold coins were missing. In August 2023, detectives learned that some of the gold coins had been pawned in Casper. The pawn shop said the man was coming back to pawn more and showed police surveillance video, which led investigators to McCloskey. Agents waited for McCloskey to return to the pawn shop and secured a search warrant for his vehicle. They discovered the vehicle was stolen and seized the MP7 machine gun and the suppressor. The pistol was not recovered. McCloskey has a felony burglary conviction from 2016 and is not allowed to possess firearms. The defendant pleaded guilty on Apr. 4. This crime was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom
Drug and Firearm Offenses
Robert Joseph Santistevan, 42, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of fentanyl. In a related case, Brittany Lyn Isaacson, 35, of Rock Springs, was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentences. According to court documents, on Oct. 31, 2023, Santistevan and Isaacson were pulled over for a traffic violation in Riverton, Wyoming. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officer found two pistols and 189 fentanyl pills. Santistevan and Isaacson each admitted handling and carrying one of the firearms. Both Santistevan and Isaacson were previously convicted felons and therefore each was prohibited from possessing a firearm. By pleading guilty, Santistevan also admitted that he distributed fentanyl. These crimes were investigated by DCI and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Brandon Overson, 31, of North Columbus, Montana, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 25. According to court documents, in the summer of 2023, DCI was conducting a drug investigation in the Gillette area. The evidence pointed to Overson as a suspected dealer. On Sept. 15, 2023, agents learned Overton was driving from Denver to Gillette. Overson was pulled over while driving through Cheyenne. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 649 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 400 fentanyl pills, a loaded .45 caliber pistol and ten .45 caliber rounds. Overson is a previously convicted felon and is not allowed to legally possess a firearm. The defendant pleaded guilty on Feb. 27. This crime was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), DCI and the Cheyenne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer.
Estefan Morales, 30, of Brighton, Colorado, was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 26. According to court documents, on Sept. 29, 2023, a Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) deputy noticed a suspicious vehicle at his neighbor’s house. The deputy called the vehicle into the FCSO, Lander Police Department (LPD) and Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP). Once the vehicle was located, the WHP attempted to pull Morales over, but he fled, and a high-speed pursuit followed. The defendant drove into a felid where he got stuck and eventually surrendered. Officers seized 200 fentanyl pills, 40 grams of methamphetamine, and a .22 caliber pistol. Morales is a previously convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms. The defendant pleaded guilty on Mar. 6. This crime was investigated by DEA, DCI, and the Lander Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer.
Drug Trafficking
Adrian Hernandez, 35, of Ogden, Utah, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on June 21. According to court documents, DEA and the Cheyenne Police Department’s Community Action Team (CPD-CAT) were conducting multiple drug trafficking investigations between July and August of 2023. In two cases, seized phones from individuals taken into custody led detectives to Hernandez. The defendant pleaded guilty on Mar. 7. This crime was investigated by DEA and CPD-CAT, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Alvaro Leon-Campos, 33, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan.18, Leon-Campos was arrested by WHP for possession of a controlled substance and booked into the Sweetwater County Detention Center. He claimed to be a resident of Mexico, so U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Mr. Leon-Campos was in the U.S. illegally. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on June 26.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Child Pornography
Sabin Francis Donohoe, 26, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun. 13. According to court documents, the defendant was a seasonal employee for a concessionaire in Yellowstone National Park in 2019. In August of 2019, he and his girlfriend visited the Fort Collins, Colorado area for a weekend where Donohoe lost his phone. Someone found the phone and saw child pornography on it while trying to identity the owner. They handed it over to the Loveland Police Department. The Loveland Police Department secured a search warrant and saw evidence of child pornography and a text message to call a number if the phone was found. The number belonged to Donohoe’s girlfriend. She identified him as the phone’s owner and gave the officer, who concealed his identity at the time, their address in Yellowstone. Officers from Loveland Police Department then contacted the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, and a joint investigation was initiated. Detectives conducted a non-custodial interview of Donohoe. The next day he fled to Canada. He was eventually arrested in Canada on Jul. 25, 2022, and extradited back to the U.S. on Nov. 27, 2023 to face charges. This crime was investigated by the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch, the Loveland Police Department, and Yellowstone law enforcement officers. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
David Robert Land, 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment for access with intent to view child pornography. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun. 12. According to court documents, a Cybertip was sent to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) regarding an IP address and an email address that was downloading pre/early pubescent pornographic images. The investigation led officers to Land, who is a registered sex offender. Investigators found numerous images of child sexual abuse material on Land’s phone. He pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment on Jan. 16. This crime was investigated by DCI and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
Violent Crime
Coal Donavan Weed, 34, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter with three years of supervised release. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun. 12. According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2022, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents were called to the scene of a fatal vehicle crash in Fort Washakie, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The victim, a passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene and Weed, the driver, was taken to the hospital. Weed consented to a blood draw that resulted in a blood alcohol concentration of .216%. Weed pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge on Mar. 4. This crime was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Leo Ernest Barnaby, Jr, 46, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served, which at the time of sentencing was 13 months and 11 days in custody, and two years of supervised release for threatening a federal law enforcement officer. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jun. 11. According to court documents, on Apr. 29, 2023, special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation went to Barnaby’s house seeking additional information regarding a shooting that occurred the previous night. Barnaby wanted to take them to the location, but the agents did not want him to return to the scene. He became agitated and threated to kill the agents several times saying he had guns in the house and would use them. Unable to diffuse the situation, the agents left and obtained an arrest warrant. The FBI’s Colorado SWAT team was deployed to make the arrest, along with local law enforcement. Barnaby was taken into custody without incident. He pleaded guilty on Mar. 27. This crime was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.
Drug Trafficking
Lane Scott Huntington, 43, of Bar Nunn, Wyoming, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in Aug. 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation was conducting a controlled purchase from a group of suspected drug dealers in Casper. After purchasing drugs from Huntington on Aug. 11., 2023, agents alerted the Wyoming Highway Patrol who conducted a traffic stop. At the same time, they requested a search warrant for his residence. They seized 30 fentanyl pills during the traffic stop and nearly 2,000 fentanyl pills in his residence. On Sept. 13, they conducted another search on his residence and seized another 680 fentanyl pills. Huntington was interviewed and admitted to being a drug dealer. He pleaded guilty on Mar. 24. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun 14. The crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ava Covert.
Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien
Luis Juarez-Gavito, 28, of Cordoba, Veracruz, Mexico was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 5, Juarez-Gavito was arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) for driving while under the influence. He was booked into Platte County Jail. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained his fingerprints. They matched pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating he had previously been deported. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Jun 13.
About the United States Attorney’s Office
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include:
Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
Project Safe Childhood
Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.
Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect.To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking
Washington man receives jail sentence for thermal trespass and a closure violation in Yellowstone National ParkRead the Press Release
Viktor Pyshniuk, 21 of Lynwood, Washington, was sentenced to seven days in jail for thermal trespass at Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). In addition, he was placed on two years of unsupervised release and received a two-year ban from YNP for a closure violation. The court also ordered Pyshniuk to pay a $1,500 fine, $30 mandatory court processing fee and $20 special assessment.
According to court documents, a YNP law enforcement officer was dispatched to the thermal area at Steamboat Geyser by an on-duty park employee who reported a person walking off the boardwalk at that location. The employee had taken a photo of the defendant who had clearly crossed over the fence and was walking up the hillside within 15-20 feet of Steamboat Geyser’s steam vent. When contacted, Pyshniuk told the officer he left the boardwalk to take photos. While speaking with Pyshniuk, the officer showed him the signs posted throughout the area stating it is illegal to leave the boardwalk and explained that walking in a thermal area is very dangerous due to possible weak ground layer, the geothermal features of mud pots, heated steam and water, and all other dangers associated with walking in a heated, unpredictable geothermal area.
Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on June 4. During sentencing she explained to the defendant that the sentence was designed to deter him, specifically, but also the public from leaving the boardwalk in this area. She expressed her concern that the defendant’s actions were seen by the people around him, and they might have thought it was okay to do the same thing. And if every visitor to YNP disobeyed the rules, the park would be destroyed, and no-one would be able to enjoy it.
“Trespassing in closed, thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park is dangerous and harms the natural resource,” said Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann. “In cases like this one where we have strong evidence showing a person has willfully disregarded signs and entered a closed, thermal area, federal prosecutors will seek significant penalties, including jail time.”
Steamboat Geyser is a prominent feature within YNP and the world’s tallest active geyser, but it is also the most dangerous. It has erratic and unpredictable eruptions that can rise anywhere from six to 300 feet high. In the last four years, the intervals between eruptions ranged anywhere from three to 89 days according to the YNP website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/steamboat-geyser.htm. Judge Hambrick also explained that the three-foot fencing around the boardwalk is a clear sign that the area is closed and prohibited from entering.
This case was investigated by Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.
For questions relating to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 307-344-2015 or [email protected]. You may also visit https://www.nps.gov/yell
Arapahoe woman convicted for aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weaponRead the Press Release
Kandace Sitting Eagle, 33, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on Jun. 13, for aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and assault with a dangerous weapon. The four-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, in Cheyenne.
According to trial evidence, on Dec. 12, 2023, an Arapahoe school resource officer conducted a welfare check on a 13-year-old student that had not been to school in over a month. He eventually found the child in a crawl space under the trailer where the parents, Kandace and Truman Sitting Eagle, were hiding the child. Based on the severity of his injuries, the child was immediately taken to Sage West Hospital in Riverton, and then transported via air ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. The investigation proved that the child had suffered weeks of physical beatings, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse at the hands of Kandace and Truman.
Sentencing has been set for Aug. 29. Kandace Sitting Eagle faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
Truman Sitting Eagle, 36, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury on Apr. 8. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6, in front of U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson in Cheyenne. He also faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in both cases.
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.
Case No. 24-CR-03
Casper man found guilty on federal firearm offensesRead the Press Release
Frank Ray Berris, 53, of Casper, Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The verdict was reached on Jun. 11, following a two-day trial held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
According to evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 3, a Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) trooper conducted a traffic stop, near Casper, on a black Ford Explorer being driven by Berris. The defendant, who considers himself a “sovereign citizen,” was driving with fictitious license plates that said, “United States of America Republic Diplomat Foreign National” and “UCC1-308.” Berris was unable to provide proof of a valid driver’s license, insurance, or registration. While talking with Berris, the trooper noticed a pistol in a holster between Berris and the console and an AR-style rifle between the console and the passenger seat. Berris had a warrant for his arrest. Following a three-hour standoff where the defendant refused to exit his car and told officers they would have to kill him, Berris eventually surrendered and was arrested.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on the vehicle and seized a semiautomatic rifle, two semiautomatic pistols, and ammunition of various calibers. Berris was a convicted felon so he was prohibited by federal law from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Berris was indicted by a grand jury and pleaded not guilty to the charges in March 2024. He represented himself at trial. Sentencing has been set for Sep. 3, 2024. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
WHP, Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and Mills Police Department responded to the scene and special agents with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Makenzie Morrison and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-00034
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announces his retirementRead the Press Release
After 29 years of service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced that he is retiring from the Department of Justice on May 31. Mr. Vassallo began his career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1995 as a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney. He served as the office’s Civil Division Chief from 2009 until 2021, when he was appointed First Assistant U.S. Attorney. He became Acting U.S. Attorney in July 2022, and in January 2023, he was appointed to the position of U.S. Attorney by Chief District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
Mr. Vassallo obtained his law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1986. After law school, he was a law clerk for Justice G. Joseph Cardine of the Wyoming Supreme Court. Following his clerkship, he was engaged in private practice in Cheyenne until 1993. From 1993 to 1995, he served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Tort Litigation Section of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office.
As a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division, Mr. Vassallo represented the interests of the United States in a wide variety of civil litigation, appearing in hundreds of cases, primarily in federal district court. Among other things, his practice included actions involving recreational injuries, wrongful death and medical malpractice claims, and environmental and natural resources disputes. He also handled numerous cases in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and in federal bankruptcy court.
As U.S. Attorney, he was considered the chief federal law enforcement officer in Wyoming, responsible for overseeing all federal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States within the district. During his term, notable criminal cases handled by his office include the prosecution for the arson of the Wellspring Health Access Clinic in Casper and the conviction of a Wyoming physician for unlawfully distributing large quantities of opioids without any legitimate medical need. Mr. Vassallo was instrumental in the creation of the Wind River Tribal Community Re-entry Court, a program intended to reduce criminal recidivism on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
“It’s been a privilege to serve the citizens of Wyoming and to work with such a dedicated and talented group of attorneys and legal professionals,” said Mr. Vassallo. “I greatly enjoyed my years with the Civil Division. I can’t imagine another legal position in which you’d have such a varied and interesting practice. And for the last two years, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve Wyoming as U.S. Attorney.”
On June 1, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann will become the Acting U.S. Attorney. Mr. Heimann has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Wyoming since 2012 and has been the First Assistant since February 2023. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Heimann prosecuted drug felonies for the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted environmental and wildlife crimes for the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2005 and began his legal career in Cheyenne as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer.
“For 29 years, Nick Vassallo represented the people of the United States with diligence and dedication,” said Mr. Heimann. “Nick’s leadership and personal example have prepared the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wyoming for continued success protecting the American people by enforcing federal law, representing the interests of the United States in federal court, promoting the civil rights of all Americans, and guarding our national security. He will be missed.”
Florida man sentenced for bank fraud at a Cheyenne financial institutionRead the Press Release
Kennard C. Bouk, III, 56, of Apopka, Florida, was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment for bank fraud and was ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on May 22.
According to court documents, on Jan. 9, 2023, Bouk deposited a counterfeit U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $560,625.04 made out to “Knight Insurance Company LLC,” at a financial institution in Cheyenne. Five days prior, on Jan. 4, 2023, Bouk had created an LLC of the same name with the Wyoming Secretary of State and opened a business account for Knight Insurance Company LLC at the financial institution. He was able to unlawfully obtain $27,000 before the fraud was detected.
It is believed that the original U.S. Treasury check was stolen in the mail, the image was sold, and the check reproduced. It did not have four of the security features of the original U.S. Treasury check. Bouk was arrested on Jun. 9, 2023 by Apopka Police Department in Florida. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb. 27, 2024. The United Stated Secret Service investigated this crime.
Case No. 23-CR-00122.