Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Public Lands Violations

Yellowstone National Park

Joshua P. Carney, 40, of Marble Falls, Texas, had his current probation revoked and reinstated for five years for violating his probation on multiple occasions, camping without a permit, and having an illegal fire. He was also sentenced to 90 days in jail for resisting arrest. According to court documents, Carney was cited on Sept. 22 for, food storage violation, and out-of-bounds camping. On Oct 8, he was sentenced to pay fines and placed on two years of unsupervised probation with standard terms, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during that time. On Nov. 25, the defendant was found in YNP, in violation of his probation terms. He was arrested and charged with camping without a permit, food storage violation, and illegal fire. He pleaded not guilty. On Dec. 8, the defendant was again located in YNP and arrested. He was additionally charged with camping without a permit, abandoning property, and resisting arrest. On Dec. 9, Carney pleaded guilty to violating his probation, camping without a permit, and having an illegal fire. He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest for which he received 90 days in jail. He was also sentenced to five years of probation in his September 22 and November 25 cases, with concurrent sentences. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the crime and U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Dec. 9, in Mammoth.

Sandra Pappas, age 31, of Arvada, Colorado, was convicted of driving under the influence and sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on one year of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban on her entering Yellowstone National Park during that time. She was also convicted of refusing an official breath test and sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration. Mandatory court costs were also ordered in the case.

Grand Teton National Park

Michael Brockman, 55, of Wilson, Wyoming, was convicted of driving under the influence and sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on two years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban on him entering Grand Teton National Park during that time. He was also convicted of interfering with a law enforcement officer and sentenced to 3 days in jail; refusing an official breath test and sentenced to 7 days in jail; convicted of contempt of court for refusing to comply with a search warrant for his blood that was issued by a United States Magistrate Judge and sentenced to 10 days in jail; convicted of leaving the scene of an accident and ordered to pay a fine of $650. Mandatory court costs were also ordered in the case.

In both park cases, because the operator of a motor vehicle refused a breath test, under 18 U.S.C. 3118 the defendants are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on all federal lands for a period of one year from the date of refusal.

Drug Trafficking

Whitney Wesaw, 25, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 142 days incarceration with three years’ supervised release to follow, for distribution of fentanyl and aiding and abetting drug distribution. According to court documents, in January of 2024, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) were conducting controlled purchases of illegal substances from known and suspected drug dealers on the Wind River Reservation. On Jan. 17 agents successfully purchased fentanyl from Wesaw. Wesaw was indicted on July 18. She was arrested on Aug. 23 and subsequently detained. She pleaded guilty on Oct. 2 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 12, in Cheyenne. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00120

Greyson Redman, 23, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served with three years’ supervised release to follow, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, in December 2023, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) were conducting controlled purchases of illegal substances from known and suspected drug dealers on the Wind River Reservation. On Dec. 19, 2023, agents successfully purchased fentanyl from Redman. Redman was indicted on July 18, brought into federal custody on July 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, in Casper. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00119

Firearm Offenses

Jarred Luther Pacheco, 39, with no permanent residency, was sentenced to 41 months, with three years’ supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He will serve his sentence consecutive to a Colorado sentence. According to court documents, on October 14, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) attempted to pull over the defendant because the car he was driving was reported stolen out of Colorado. The defendant fled at high rates of speed. CPD caught up with the vehicle and stopped  Pacheco. During their contact with Pacheco. they found a 12-gauge shotgun between the driver’s door and the driver’s seat. Pacheco was previously convicted of a felony and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Pacheco was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 19 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol, , Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the CPD investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00111

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Victor Hugo Lira Tepca, 37, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 14, Lira Tepca was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Lira Tepca had previously been removed from the U.S. in March of 2010 and had not applied for permission to reenter the U. S. 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 Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00105