Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

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Recent Sentencings

Injury or Depredation to United States Property

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Sherette Joseph Lujan, 48, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release for injury or depredation to United States property. The court also ordered him to pay $2,304 in restitution. According to court documents, on June 15, the Riverton Police Department was dispatched to the Riverton Post Office for a report of a man breaking windows in the building with a metal object. Officers detained Lujan who claimed a group of "gangsters" were following him, so he attempted to barricade himself inside the Post Office and break the windows to scare them off. Lujan also admitted that he had done methamphetamine earlier in the night. Lujan was indicted on July 10, pleaded guilty on Sept. 3, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced him on Nov. 22, in Cheyenne. The U.S. Postal Service and Riverton Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00097

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Child Pornography

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Robert Lynn Harris, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, with 10 years of supervised release to follow, for possession and access with intent to view child pornography, subsequent offense. The court also ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution. According to court documents, on May 13, Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agents were contacted by U.S. Probation Agents related to a supervision confiscation of evidence resulting from a search conducted on Harris, a convicted sex offender with a lifetime term of supervised release. The agent had located child pornography on a micro-SD card belonging to the defendant. Harris was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, and was sentenced on Nov. 27, by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) ICAC Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Z. Seth Griswold. Case No. 24-CR-00101

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Drug Trafficking

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Kathleen Lindsay, 36, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 96 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 10, the Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop to execute a search warrant. Troopers seized 43 grams of fentanyl and 140 grams of methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia. Lindsay was taken to the Natrona County Detention Center where law enforcement located a bag of 90 fentanyl pills inside of her body. She was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 25, in Cheyenne. DCI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00066

Kenneth Waters, 34, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months' imprisonment, with four years of supervised release to follow, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, between May 15, and June 20, law enforcement conducted several controlled purchases from Waters, totaling 15.06 grams. He was arrested on June 20 and an additional 22.27 grams of fentanyl were in his residence. Walters was indicted on July 31, pleaded guilty on Sept. 13, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 26, in Cheyenne. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00129

Kevin Washakie, 34, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served from May 29 to Dec. 2, with three years of supervised release to follow, for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in September 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Washakie. He was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 31, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 27, in Casper. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00083

Firearm Offenses

Brian Scott Birden, 54, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 33 months' imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement was called to a house in Sheridan for a man firing multiple rounds inside the victim's house while she was at work. The victim received a call about the disturbance and was able to make it home and take control of her gun before law enforcement arrived. They discovered 8 bullet holes and 16 spent shell casings. Birden is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was indicted July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Nov. 26, in Cheyenne. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00116

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Updated December 2, 2024