Activity in the United States Attorney's Office

Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced STEWART MILES DOTY, 62, of Big Piney, Wyoming on February 8, 2019 for manufacture, distribution, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana, money laundering conspiracy, and laundering of monetary instruments. Doty was arrested in Big Piney, Wyoming. He received eighteen months of imprisonment as to counts 1 and 3 to be served concurrently, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $500.00. The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and US Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.

Beginning no later than 2011, Doty operated an organic tomato business called Wyomatoes from his residence in Big Piney. There, Doty grew tomatoes and other vegetables in greenhouses for sale at farmer’s markets and to retailers. Doty’s business fell on hard times, so he began growing and selling marijuana instead of tomatoes in 2016.

In August 2017, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation special agents served a search warrant on Doty’s Big Piney property. Deputies and agents found approximately 47 pounds of processed marijuana, several thousand dollars in cash, and marijuana stalks and root-balls. Doty was present for the search warrant and admitted he had been cultivating and selling marijuana.

Special agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service reviewed Doty’s financial records. These records showed that Doty had been depositing cash from marijuana sales into his business bank account to make it appear as if he had earned the money from his tomato business.

Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JOSE BEDOLLA-VASQUEZ, 27, of Mexico on February 12, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Bedolla-Vasquez was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received six months of imprisonment and order to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.

Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced STEVEN THOMAS ATWELL, 56, of Cheyenne, Wyoming on February 11, 2019 for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Atwell was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received sixty months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.

Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced JONATHON DANIEL WRIGHT, 37, of Laramie, Wyoming on February 2, 2019 for escape from custody. Wright was arrested in Laramie, Wyoming. He received eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The United States Marshals Service investigated this case.

Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced KENNETH DARRYL WASHINGTON, 47, of Olympia Fields, Illinois on February 4, 2019 for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Washington was arrested in Grand Junction, Colorado. He received forty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by twenty-four months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.

Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced FELIPE RODRIGUEZ-FERNANDEZ, 39, of Tamaulipas, Mexico on February 6, 2019 for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Rodriguez-Fernandez was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received time served plus ten days to allow for deportation proceedings and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigated this case.