Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Press Release

Recent Sentencings

Child Sexual Assault Material

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Justin Michael Lamb, 29, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison with 15 years of supervised release to follow, for the production of child pornography. According to court documents, in May of 2023, a Wyoming probation agent was supervising the defendant after he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender. Lamb failed to report to probation and update his offender registration, as required. Around the same time, a tip came in that Lamb was dating a minor. Casper Police Department officers and detectives conducted interviews and searched Lamb's digital devices. They found over 100 files of lude and lascivious material of a minor. The defendant was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00099

Gregory Scott Gage, 31, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment with 10 years of supervised release to follow, for obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children, subsequent offense. According to court documents, on March 25, a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) agent was contacted by a probation officer about Gage possessing electronics containing potential files of child pornography. Gage was under supervision after being sentenced for access with intent to view child pornography. Agents found and forensically investigated three smartphones, all of which contained pornographic depictions of minors. Gage was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept 13, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5, in Cheyenne. U.S. Probation and Parole, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00100

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Drug Trafficking & Firearms

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Larry Arguijo, 46, of Douglas, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in June of 2024, agents with DCI Central Enforcement Team (CEET) began an investigation into an ongoing conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, occurring in Converse and Natrona County. During the investigation, several individuals including Arguijo were identified as part of the conspiracy. Arguijo waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Sept. 11. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. Homeland Security Investigations and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00132

Firearm Offenses

Howard George Lujan, 36, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served from July 30, 2024, up to January 6, 2025, with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement stopped a vehicle that Lujan was a passenger in and found a gun wrapped up in a sweatshirt under the seat he was sitting in. Lujan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Lujan was indicted on July 18, brought into federal custody on July 30, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12 and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Cheyenne. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00122

Kenneth Levi Crawford, 24, of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison with three years of supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 25, a citizen called the Casper Police Department to report the location of a fugitive, the defendant. Crawford was found where the citizen described, and officers confirmed that Crawford had multiple active warrants. When officers encountered him, he had a pistol in his waistband. Crawford is a previously convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Crawford was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 3, in Casper. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Casper Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00115

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Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Arnulfo Perez-Gomez, 31, of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, was sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment for illegal reentry into the United States. Perez-Gomez will be deported following his sentence. According to court documents, on August 4, Perez-Gomez was found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Sweetwater County Detention Center. Perez-Gomez had been arrested for state drug charges. Sweetwater County Sheriff's Deputies alerted ICE's Casper office that Perez-Gomez claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala on his booking sheet. ICE agents determined Perez-Gomez had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in December 2013. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 4, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00156

Margarito Sanchez-Velazquez, 37, of Chapultenango, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, in April 2022, Sanchez-Velazquez was encountered in Gillette, Wyoming. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted, and they determined that Sanchez-Velazquez did not have permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in May 2019. 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 Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00104

Vitaliano Garcia-Mendez, 49, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Feb. 26, Garcia-Mendez was arrested by the Big Horn Sheriff's Office for driving while under the influence of alcohol. 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-Mendez was in the U.S. illegally and had not applied for permission to reenter the U.S. after being formally removed in June 2003. 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 Dec. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00108

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

Contact

Updated December 11, 2024