CASPER, Wyo. — Derek Edward Lanctot was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison with five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On April 15, Lanctot — a 38-year-old transient man from the Denver area — was stopped by the Wyoming Highway Patrol while traveling down Interstate 25 near Bordeaux. There were three other people in the vehicle along with him. The trooper noticed the smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and requested assistance for a search.
The vehicle then took off and led troopers on a high-speed chase before eventually crashing. At that point, all four occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, a stash book was found in the trunk containing more than 600 grams of fentanyl pills and a small pistol.
Lanctot was indicted on May 16 and pleaded guilty on Aug. 12. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and WHP investigated the crime.
