Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Tax Fraud

Adriana Terrazas-Pacheco, 25, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to one month in federal prison, five months of home confinement, and one year of supervised release for the Willful Failure to File a Tax Return. She was also ordered to pay $48,039 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, $4,387 for the costs of prosecution, and a $4,000 fine. According to court documents, Terrazas-Pacheco failed to file tax returns for tax years 2017-2022. When she learned she was being investigated, she filed delinquent tax returns, two of which were false because she underreported her true income. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the federal tax investigation. The defendant waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Jan. 14. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on April 17 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00003

Drug Trafficking

Curtis Wesley Rogers, 48, of Douglas, Wyoming, was sentenced in two separate criminal cases to 240 months’ imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release. In one criminal case, Rogers was charged with the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Wyoming resident. In the second criminal case, the defendant was charged in the Eastern District of Texas with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The court ordered the defendant to pay $9,219.78 to the Wyoming victim’s family. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Douglas Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the crimes. Chief U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Casper on April 15, 2025.

Drug Trafficking & Firearms

Dustin Trosper, 22, a transient on the Wind River Reservation, was sentenced to 60 months with three years of supervised release to follow for carrying a firearm during in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  According to court documents, on Aug. 14, 2024, the defendant met several people in the parking lot of a convenience store with the intent to sell them fentanyl. According to witness testimony, the victim attempted to attack Trosper by placing him in a chokehold from the backseat. Trosper dragged the victim out of the car and fired a pistol three to four times, hitting the victim. All parties took off, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was able to locate the victim and take him to the hospital. The BIA and FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Trosper was indicted on Sept. 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Jan. 27. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 17. Case No. 24-00151

Benjamin Cisneros, 65, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Cisneros was identified as a source of supply for drugs in Southeast Wyoming. On Nov. 12, 2024, officers witnessed Cisneros park at the Horse Palace at Swan Ranch outside of Cheyenne. Officers received permission to run a drug detection dog through the parking lot, and the dog positively alerted to Mr. Cisneros’ vehicle. Officers seized approximately 111.6 grams of cocaine. A search warrant was executed at Mr. Cisneros’ residence where officers seized another 27.3 grams of cocaine, over 500 grams of suspected methamphetamine, digital scales and packaging, all associated with distribution. A Heritage Rough Rider .22 caliber revolver, with an obliterated serial number, was also located in Mr. Cisneros’ bedroom. He is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms. The Cheyenne Police Department Community Action Team investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case.  On Jan. 14, Cisneros waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-00004

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Alfredo Carlos Chong-Licea, 51, of Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan. 27, Chong-Licea was arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) in Carbon County for no driver’s license, failure to maintain a single lane, and fleeing/eluding the police. The defendant’s fingerprints were examined against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, and a match was found. ICE was contacted. They determined that Chong-Licea had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in October 2016. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 18, 2025. Case No. 25-CR-00034

Julio Lopez-Vazquez, 37, of Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Oct. 26, 2024, Lopez-Vazquez was arrested by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence of alcohol and not having a driver’s license. The defendant’s fingerprints were examined against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database, and a match was found. ICE was contacted. They determined that Lopez-Vazquez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in December 2019. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-CR-00032

Miguel Ramos-Perez, 33, of Chiapas, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 24, Ramos-Perez was arrested in Campbell County for failure to appear. ICE was contacted when he admitted to being a citizen of Mexico. They determined that Ramos-Perez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in July 2022. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore investigated the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence in Cheyenne on April 15. Case No. 25-CR-00038

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.

Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring 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