CASPER, Wyo. — The U.S. Justice Department announced four sentences rendered in the District of Wyoming in a release on Tuesday. The summaries from the U.S. Attorney’s Office are as follows:
Drug Trafficking
Bryan Sanchez, 40, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in September 2023, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 3.5 grams of methamphetamine from Sanchez on the Wind River Reservation.
Sanchez was indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jan. 31 in Casper. DCI and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-00080
Firearm Offenses
Patrick Michael Cowan, 39, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, the defendant came to the attention of law enforcement during a drug investigation. They had been monitoring his actions when officers realized the truck the defendant was driving was reported stolen. Officers conducted a traffic stop on Sept. 2, 2024, and seized a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun and 5.23 grams of methamphetamine. Cowan is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an information on Nov. 12, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Jan. 31 in Cheyenne.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, DCI and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case.
Case No. 24-CR-00157
Illegal Reentry of a Previously Deported Alien
Jorge Leon-Perez, 36, of Tlaxcala, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 10, 2023, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office arrested and booked the defendant into the Teton County Detention Center for failure to appear for a citation issued on April 29, 2023, for possessing a controlled substance. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were contacted. They determined that Leon-Perez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in March 2009.
ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 28 in Casper.
Case No. 24-CR-00128
Eniwer Roblero-Roblero, 25, of Sibinal, San Marcos, Guatemala, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Aug. 2, 2024, an ICE duty officer was assigned to locate and arrest the defendant for an offense of DWUI on Feb. 5, 2024, in Teton County. Teton County deputies notified ICE at the time of the arrest. After ICE interviewed the defendant, they determined the defendant was a citizen of Guatemala and entered the country illegally in 2019.
ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 28 in Casper.
Case No. 24-CR-00138
Eduardo Saldivar-Bernal, 40, of Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on June 23, 2024, the defendant was arrested by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department and booked into the Campbell County Detention Center for driving under the influence with a child passenger, interference with a peace officer, no valid driver’s license and not stopping before emerging from an alley. The defendant claimed to be a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were contacted. They determined that Saldivar-Bernal had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in October 2002.
ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 30 in Casper.
Case No. 24-CR-00107