Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

Drug Trafficking

Edgar Narvaez Vega, 23, from Quito, Ecuador, was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment with two years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. According to court documents, on July 5, 2025, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper stopped the defendant and his brother on I-80 for speeding. The defendant was a passenger. The trooper smelled marijuana and observed it in plain view, leading to a probable cause search. Inside the vehicle troopers discovered large quantities of narcotics hidden in trash bags and wrapped in multiple layers of plastic wrap and oil to deter detection. Troopers seized 63 packages of methamphetamine (74.17 lbs.), along with cocaine (2.6 lbs.), fentanyl pills (1.3 lbs.), heroin (1.5 lbs.), and smaller amounts of marijuana. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. The defendant was indicted on Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Feb. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00124

Leisa Michelle Reese, 47, with no fixed address, was sentenced to 57 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on June 11, 2025, law enforcement in Crook County, Wyoming, contacted the defendant in her vehicle which was parked at a hotel, after observing suspicious activity. At first, she provided a false name, but was eventually identified through hotel records, arrested on an active South Dakota warrant, and found with methamphetamine paraphernalia. In the vehicle deputies found a black bag on the passenger-side floorboard containing large quantities of methamphetamine, smaller baggies, cash, and items bearing the defendant's name. Approximately 517 grams of methamphetamine were seized. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Reese was indicted on Sept. 17, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 10, 2026, in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00136

Dennis Bayless, 65, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 84 months' imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in October 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating Bayless as a suspected methamphetamine supplier in Goshen County. Law enforcement seized over 500 grams of methamphetamine from Bayless at various locations. DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Bayless was arrested on Aug. 5, 2025, waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Feb. 10 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00154

Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien

Jose Vazquez, 50, of Colima, Mexico, was sentenced to six month's imprisonment with one year of supervised release for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. and fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other entry documents. He will be deported following his sentence. According to court documents, in July 2025, a Hall County, Georgia woman reported identity theft after discovering a fraudulent use of her social security number traced to Jose Vazquez in Kemmerer. Kemmerer Police found that Vazquez had been using the victim's social security number on employment documents and had another social security card in his possession that belonged to a different individual. HSI determined Vazquez had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2006 and had not applied for permission to reenter. HSI and the Kemmerer Police Department investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Feb. 9 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00167

Joaquin Mejia-Andrade, 48, of Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 11 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release for illegal re-entry into the U.S. of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, on Oct. 25, 2025, Mejia-Andrade was arrested in Jackson 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 October 2016. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 10, 2026, in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00157

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 ChildhoodLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.
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