Recent Sentencings
Drug trafficking: Shane Michael Moser, 29, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 140 months’ imprisonment with four years’ supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on May 17, the Casper Police Department responded to an unconscious male behind the steering wheel of a running vehicle. Upon approaching the car, officers saw a scale with white residue next to Moser. They searched the vehicle and located 223 grams of methamphetamine in the centre console.
After interviewing the defendant, he admitted to distributing approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine over two months. Moser was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on September 30, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on December 20 in Cheyenne. Wyoming.
Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00117
Firearm offences: Justin Keith Noland, 38, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment, with three years’ supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, on June 25, the Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office executed a State of Wyoming search warrant for Noland’s residence based on probable cause of drug trafficking. The search warrant also authorized law enforcement to search for and seize firearms. In addition, Noland had extraditable arrest warrants out of Natrona and Converse counties.
Law enforcement located a total of three pistols, two of them loaded, and additional ammunition in a backpack. Noland is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Noland was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on September 25, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on December 18 in Casper. DCI and the FCSO investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00123
Illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien: Inocente Rios-Lopez aka Villaverde-Sotelo, 48, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to time served (62 days) and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on October 5, Villaverde-Sotelo was arrested by the Rock Spring Police Department for driving while under the influence. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified when Sweetwater County Jail emailed Villaverde-Sotelo’s arrest information, including a Mexico Voter identification card named Inocente Rios-Lopez, to the agency.
On October 7, ICE agents obtained fingerprints that matched an existing immigration record for Villaverde-Sotell,o who was removed from the U.S. in 2001 and had not applied for permission to reenter. 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 December 17 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00158
