Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Child Pornography

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Gregory James Griffin, 31, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment for possession of child pornography - subsequent offense. According to court documents, in September 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force began receiving CyberTips involving a phone number belonging to Griffin. A search warrant resulted in the seizure of the defendant's phone identified during the investigation. Over 60 files of child pornography were located on his phone. Griffin had a previous conviction for possession of child pornography out of California in 2010 and is a registered sex offender in the state of Wyoming. This crime was investigated by the DCI-ICAC Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold. Griffin was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 16, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 8, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00062

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Drug Trafficking

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James P. Graham, 64, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 87 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Dec. 17, 2023, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) conducted a traffic stop on Graham, who had a warrant for his arrest. The trooper deployed his K9 partner on Graham's vehicle and the dog obtained a positive alert. Graham had over 165 grams of methamphetamine, packaging, and drug paraphernalia. A forensic download of Graham's phone indicated he was a source of supply for methamphetamine. Graham waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 9. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 1, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and WHP investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00092

Robert Allen Yetsick, aka Ryan Kelp, 36, a transient, was sentenced to 46 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to the Days Inn for a welfare check where they found the defendant unresponsive in his room. Upon entering, Cheyenne Fire and Rescue found hypodermic needles, a plastic bag containing approximately 45 grams of methamphetamine, a plastic container containing 3.41 grams of heroin, and a small amount of marijuana. After a search of Yetsick's phone, officers found messages requesting ¼ pound of methamphetamine from him and wanting to trade pills for methamphetamine. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and CPD. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood. Yetsick was indicted on May 20, pleaded guilty on July 15, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 3, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00059

Preston James Castor, 23, of Sundance, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Feb. 15, the Riverton Police Department (RPD) pulled over Castor for crossing over the fog line with the vehicle's passenger side, in Riverton. Dispatch advised that Castor had an active South Dakota Fugitive warrant. He was placed under arrest and a subsequent search of his vehicle conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), recovered 3.5 Kilograms of cocaine, 20.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, a money counter, a small number of unknown pills, and $1,600.00 in U.S. Currency. This crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, DCI and RPD. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Forwood. Castor was indicted on May 20, pleaded guilty on July 19, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 4, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00061

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Drug and Firearm Offenses

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Quinton James Fisher, 21, of Evansville, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 18, a special agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a tip that Fisher was selling drugs out of a hotel room in Evansville. Fisher had been on their radar for some time. A search of Fisher's room yielded approximately 2.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,730 fentanyl pills, smaller amounts of crack cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, drug packaging and scales, $4,500 in U.S. currency, three semi-automatic rifles and one semi-automatic handgun. DCI and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Fisher waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 1. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence of Oct. 3, in Casper. Case No. 24-00091

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Firearm Offenses

Andrew Lee Kirkendall, 46, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Sept. 5, 2023, the Cheyenne Police Department (CPD) were dispatched to the American Legion Post 6 for reports of shots fired. Witnesses pointed to the defendant but when an officer tried to approach Kirkendall, he ran away. A foot pursuit with additional CPD officers and the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) ensued. Multiple citizens called into dispatch detailing the defendant's location and that he was brandishing his firearm at citizens on the street. Officers caught up with Kirkendall and deployed a taser to immobilize him. They found a loaded Ruger SR9C 9mm caliber pistol on his person. Kirkendall, a convicted felon is unable to legally possess a firearm. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, CPD, and WHP. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer. Kirkendall was indicted on Nov. 15, 2023, pleaded guilty on July 12, and the sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on Oct. 3, in Casper. Case No. 23-CR-00152

Escape from Custody

Anthony James Kelley, 33, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for escaping from custody. According to court documents, on March 11, Kelleywalked out of the Volunteers of America (VOA), Re-entry Center in Gillette where he was serving a custodial sentence. Kelley knew that if he left the facility without authorization, he would be charged with escape. On March 15, The Evansville Police Department were dispatched to the C'mon Inn in Evansville for a suspicious person. An officer located Kelley and took him into custody. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Office and the case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison. Kelley was indicted on May 16, pleaded guilty on July 16, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 8, in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-0067

llegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Tulio Arnulfo Garcia-Salazar, 42, of Morales, Izabel, Guatemala, was sentenced to time served for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, on March 19, 2024, Garcia-Salazar was arrested by the Rock Springs Police Department for driving under the influence of alcohol, hit and run, maintaining a single lane, and no insurance. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted. A Deportation Officer processed the defendant and obtained fingerprints matching pre-existing fingerprints in their database indicating Garcia-Salazar was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in May 2018. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 30. Case No. 24-CR-00074

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:

Environmental Justice
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

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.

Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.

Victim Witness Assistance
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that 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#trafficking