CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Colorado man was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for kidnapping a woman from Michael Bloomberg’s ranch and taking her to Cheyenne.
Joseph Beecher, 51, of Craig, Colorado, was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, using a firearm during a crime and transporting stolen firearms. His sentencing occurred in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, where Judge Alan B. Johnson also imposed five years of supervised release after Beecher’s prison term.
The incident began on Feb. 2, 2022, when Beecher broke into his employer’s home in Craig after being fired. Armed with stolen firearms, including a Bushmaster AR-style rifle, Beecher drove to Bloomberg’s Colorado ranch with plans to kill the billionaire.
When he found only a female employee on the property, Beecher held her at gunpoint and forced her to drive him across Colorado. He intended to locate another media mogul, but those attempts failed. Eventually, Beecher directed the woman to drive him to the Stage Coach Motel in Cheyenne.
Early on Feb. 3, 2022, the Cheyenne Police Department’s SWAT team rescued the woman and arrested Beecher. The victim was physically unharmed, according to police.
The FBI and multiple agencies, including the Cheyenne Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Vierbuchen led the prosecution.
Evidence presented at trial revealed Beecher’s violent intent and his use of firearms during the abduction. After a three-day trial, a federal jury found Beecher guilty on Aug. 28, 2024.
Beecher was indicted on March 17, 2022, and initially pleaded not guilty. His conviction underscores the coordinated efforts of local and federal law enforcement, including the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Craig Police Department.
