Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Press Release

Tax Fraud

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Pau Kim Ly, 52, of Jackson, Wyoming, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and four months of home confinement with one year of supervised release for filing a false tax return. The court also ordered Ly to pay a total of $371,803 in restitution to the IRS and the State of Wyoming and an additional $16,588 to the U.S. Government for the cost of prosecution. According to court documents, Ly was a part owner of Chinatown restaurant in Jackson and the person responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. For tax years 2019 through 2022, Ly knowingly underreported the restaurant's true cash receipts to the IRS and the State of Wyoming. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation was responsible for investigating the crime. Ly waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July. 23. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 24 in Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00096

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Drug Trafficking

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Roddeen Ingawanup, 56, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 35 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, during an investigation into drug trafficking on the Wind River Indian Reservation, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Ingawanup was involved in distributing controlled substances. A controlled purchase led to a search of the defendant's residence resulting in a seizure of $12,535 in U.S. currency, 20 fentanyl pills, 50 grams of methamphetamine, and other drug related contraband. FBI and DCI Agents with the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Ingawanup was indicted on May 24 and pleaded guilty on July 24. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 22, in Casper. Case No. 24-00078

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Firearm Offenses

Stephen Clifford Swingle, 45, of Evansville, Wyoming, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for being in possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents, Swingle was sentenced to three years of supervised probation in November 2023 for willfully injuring government property. Swingle violated the terms of his probation by failing multiple urinalysis tests so federal probation officers searched his home. During the search, they found two homemade, unregistered silencers. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Evansville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne Martens prosecuted the case. Swingle pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Oct. 24, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00071

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

Contact

Updated October 25, 2024