Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Firearm Offenses

Michael Lee Smith, 49, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a property outside Cheyenne where the defendant lived. During the execution of the search warrant, LCSO found 10 firearms and multiple high capacity magazines. Smith is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Smith was indicted on Sept. 18. 2024, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2024. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 12, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and Laramie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00146

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Roberto Palacios-Grimaldo, 39, of Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents on Nov. 22, 2024, the defendant was arrested by the Sheridan Police Department for driving under the influence of alcohol. He informed officers that he was from Mexico. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted and determined that Palacios-Grimaldo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in September 2016.  ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Feb. 12, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00144

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:

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