Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Drug Trafficking

James Lee Kesler, age 45, of Ogden, Utah, was sentenced to 108 months in prison following a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, on Mar. 3, an officer with the Evanston (Wyo.) Police Department contacted Kessler in his parked car. Kessler was disoriented and had trouble following directions. When asked if there were controlled substances in the car, Kesler said there were 500-600 fentanyl pills in the glove box. A search of Kessler’s car revealed over 700 fentanyl pills. Text messages found on Kessler’s cellphone showed he was selling fentanyl. This crime was investigated by the Evanston Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 18.

Michael Guzman, age 40, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 75 months in prison following a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, on Mar. 18, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered over 60 grams of fentanyl following a traffic stop of a car driven by Guzman. A review of Guzman’s cellphone revealed text messages showing Guzman was selling fentanyl. This crime was investigated by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, the Cheyenne Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 19.

Brandon Marshall Clevenger, age 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, during a traffic stop on April 18, investigators found a semiautomatic pistol and over 600 grams of methamphetamine in a car driven by Clevenger. When interviewed, Clevenger admitted the pistol and methamphetamine belonged to him. Clevenger was indicted in May and pled guilty in July. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Oct. 19.

Violent Crime

Charles Edward Wallowingbull Jr., age 35, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 18 months in prison following a guilty plea to assault by strangulation. According to court documents, on Apr. 18, a Wind River  Police Department (WRPD) officer responded to a call of a domestic strangulation. The investigation showed that Wallowingbull had placed his hands over the victim’s throat and squeezed while pushing her downward into a mattress to the point where the victim could no longer breath or scream. This crime was investigated by the FBI and WRPD. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 18.

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