Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Crimes on Public Lands

Yellowstone National Park

John Nofsinger, 31, of Columbus, Ohio pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher and refusing to provide a breath test. On the same date Nofsinger was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration for refusing the official breath test, with credit for 2 days previously served. Nofsinger was sentenced to a 3-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Nofsinger was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 3 in Mammoth, Wyoming.

Michael O’Connell, 54 of Canton, Massachusetts, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park under the influence of alcohol to the extent he was incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle and refusing to comply with an official breath test. For refusing to comply with the official breath test O’Connell was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 1 day previously served. O’Connell was ordered to serve the additional 6-day sentence immediately and was not released from custody after the sentencing hearing. O’Connell was also sentenced to a 2-year term of probation for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. O’Connell was also sentenced to pay a total of $800 in fines and court costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming.

Kyle Decare, 30 of Brighton, Michigan, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle in Yellowstone National Park with a breath alcohol concentration of .08% and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Decare was sentenced to a 7-day term of incarceration with credit for 2 days previously served for driving the motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. For driving with a suspended driver’s license, the defendant was sentenced to a 2-year term of probation under certain terms and conditions, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probation period. Decare was also sentenced to pay a total of $1,650 in fines and court costs because it was his second DUI conviction within one year. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Mammoth, Wyoming. 

Drug Trafficking

Calvin Eugene Stroup, 42, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in February 2024, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began an investigation into drug trafficking in Sheridan and Campbell Counties. Through the investigation, agents identified Stroup as a middleman, receiving large quantities from a source of supply and selling them to distributors in Wyoming. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Stroup was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 4. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00016

Collie Judson Warren, 49, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During an investigation into drug trafficking activities on the Wind River Indian Reservation and surrounding communities, Agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) observed Warren pick up suspected drugs from a known source of supply. Agents subsequently seized nearly two pounds of methamphetamine from Warren’s pickup. The FBI and DCI through the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigated the offense. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Warren was indicted on March 20 and pleaded guilty on June 6. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00055

Violent Crime

Matthew Jarrett Smith, 33, of Kinnear, Wyoming, was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on Dec. 5, 2024, law enforcement responded to an assault incident. The victim reported she had been assaulted by the defendant including being hit, kicked, and strangled, which resulted in extensive injuries to her neck and face, rib fractures, bruising and swelling, and a broken toe. The crime was investigated by the FBI and the BIA Wind River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. The defendant was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on June 2. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 21 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-00012

Drew Blackburn, Jr., 18, from Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for making interstate threats to injure another person. According to court documents, between August and October 2024, the defendant was incarcerated in South Dakota for conduct related to an assault on his victim. During that time, correctional officers audited his phone calls and learned he had been calling the victim with whom he was not supposed to have contact. They also found over 1,000 texts, some of them containing threats. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Blackburn was indicted on March 20, and he pleaded guilty on June 3. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 22 in Casper. Case No. 25-00046

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Juan Flores-Pinuelas, 37, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Jan. 3, the defendant was arrested in Uinta County for domestic battery. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Flores-Pinuelas is a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Flores-Pinuelas had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in December 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 18 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00100

Jose Guadelupe Luna-Murillo, 29, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2024, the defendant was arrested in Sweetwater County for driving while under the influence. He provided a written statement that he was from Mexico and that he was in the U.S. illegally. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted and they took the defendant’s fingerprints. It was determined that Luna-Murillo had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in September 2018. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Sept. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00009

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