Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Assault

Jimmy Joe Black, 58, from Clinton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served, which at the time of sentencing was three months and 24 days, for assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. The defendant also received two years of supervised release. According to court documents, in April 2023 the victim sought medical attention for an injury to her wrist; however, she did not report it as abuse until September of 2023. The victim indicated that the defendant was always with her, and she felt unsafe. She provided investigators photo evidence of the assault along with text messages of the defendant apologizing. She claimed the assault has led to years of pain in her hand and wrist. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Black was indicted on July 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025. After the plea hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence. Case No. 24-CR-00125

Firearm Offenses

Eddie Lee Shells, 27 of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served with two years of supervised release to follow for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic violence. At the time of his sentencing, Shells had served 142 days in prison. According to court documents, the defendant was responsible for an assault on his live-in girlfriend. After the assault, the Fremont County Sheriff's Department requested help from DCI to locate the defendant. On Oct. 23, 2024, the defendant was located in Campbell County. Wyoming Highway Patrol attempted to pull him over for speeding when he fled. After a brief pursuit, the defendant stopped his truck and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. Troopers conducted a search of his truck and located two firearms. The defendant was convicted of domestic assault in February 2021, prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. DCI, Fremont County Sheriff's Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Shell was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 17. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 8 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00020

Drug Trafficking

Danel Akio Moriyama, 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Cheyenne Police Department investigated Danel Moriyama for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his home. Surveillance uncovered frequent visitors and vehicle activity consistent with drug sales occurring in the house. Subsequent coordination with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) revealed his connection to multiple drug distributors in both Wyoming and Colorado. On September 18, following the defendant's trip to Colorado to acquire drugs, officers conducted a traffic stop and found 447 grams of methamphetamine and 194 fentanyl pills in his pickup truck. A subsequent search of his residence yielded handguns, additional methamphetamine, an AR-style rifle, and drug distribution materials. The Cheyenne Police Department and NCDTF investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Moriyama was indicted on Nov. 29, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00173

Micah Edwards Maas, 37, of Worland, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting in the use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Micah Maas was a distributor of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Worland, Wyoming area. As the investigation continued, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) learned of a suspected methamphetamine source of supply in San Francisco who was shipping packages to Worland through the U.S. Postal Service. USPIS investigators began monitoring the packages and intercepted multiple packages containing methamphetamine and others containing thousands of fentanyl pills. DCI and USPIS investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Maas was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00094

Sarah Louise Hutchinson, 42, from Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 90 months' imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, between September 2023 and December 2024, DCI agents were investigating drug trafficking in Campbell County. Sarah and her partner John Roberts were identified as distributors of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, agents made a controlled purchase from her codefendant. On Dec. 5, 2024, the Campbell County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on Roberts and Hutchinson. Officers seized approximately 379 grams of methamphetamine. DCI and the Campbell County Sheriff's Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Hutchinson was indicted on July 16 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00076

Pauline Michelle Lane, 37, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced to 120 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in January of 2024, the Sheridan Police Department along with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began investigating a drug trafficking organization. Officers seized a phone from one of the distributors and identified Lane as the source of supply. The defendant acknowledged selling methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl to a friend, who was then redistributing the controlled substances in Wyoming. Lane admitted the drug transactions occurred between August 9, 2023, and May 5, 2024. She acknowledged the amount of methamphetamine was more than 500 grams. The Sheridan Police Department and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Lane was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 9. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 5 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00017

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Leobardo Rangel-Ventura, 33, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. According to court documents, on June 19, ICE located the defendant at the Sublette County Jail in Pinedale. The defendant was arrested by the Sublette County Sheriff's Department for the offense of failure to appear on an underlying case for driving under the influence of alcohol. Based on the defendant's fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in November 2018. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00153

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:

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.

Operation Take Back America
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Victim Witness Program
The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring 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