Sentencings for July 17 - July 20, 2018

JULIO GASCA-NIETO, 30, of Denver, Colorado was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on July 19, 2018 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. Gasca-Nieto was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received one hundred twenty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency investigated this case.

CODY JAMES AHRENS, 27, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on July 17, 2018 for seize, confine, kidnap, carry away and hold, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Ahrens was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received one hundred thirty months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200.00 special assessment. The Cheyenne Police Department, Weld County Colorado Sheriff’s Office and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.

*** This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

MICAH NATHANIAL HECK, 25, of Claude, Texas was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on July 20, 2018 for sexual battery. Heck was arrested in Claude, Texas. He received twelve months of imprisonment, to be followed by twelve months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,602.75 and a $25.00 special assessment. The National Park Service investigated this case.

AARON MICHAEL WATSON, 29, of Gillette, Wyoming was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on July 19, 2018 for interference with interstate commerce by means of robbery and aid and abet. Watson was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received eighty-four months of imprisonment, to be followed by thirty-six months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,409.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The Gillette Police Department and US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.

*** This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

KENDAL RAY WILLIAMS, 42, with no fixed address, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on July 19, 2018 for failure to register as a sex offender. Williams was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received fifteen months of imprisonment, to be followed by sixty months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100.00 special assessment. The United States Marshals Service investigated this case.