Sentencings For April 20 - April 30, 2015

Royce E. Mortiz, 46, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on April 30, 2015, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and for conspiracy to launder money. Mortiz was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $400.00 fine and a $200.00 special assessment. This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Mario R. Garza, 33, of Pueblo, Colorado, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 28, 2015, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and for conspiracy to launder money. Garza was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by ten years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $2,300.00 fine and a $200.00 special assessment. This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Ignacio Moreno, 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 28, 2015, for possession of child pornography. Moreno was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served, to be followed by five years of supervised release, was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment, and is subject to deportation upon release from custody. This cases was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Ernie Petersen, 34, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 28, 2015, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Petersen was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 27 months imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the National Park Service with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Tracy Alshurafa, 28, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on April 24, 2015, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Alshurafa was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $500.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department.

Armando Carabajal, 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on April 24, 2015, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Carabajal was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 151 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $500.00 fine and a $100.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department.

Wesley Wayne Leech, 48, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 20, 2015, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Leech was arrested in Thermopolis, Wyoming. He received 18 months of probation and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.