Security News in Brief: ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Chief United Stated District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced TYLER EUGENE MCCURDY 40, of Riverton, Wyoming on March 16, 2022, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime. McCurdy was arrested in Lander, Wyoming on September 30, 2021. He received 200 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $200 special assessment. At the time of the arrest, on July 9, 2021, McCurdy was in possession of approximately 360 grams of methamphetamine, 21 grams of heroin, plant form and liquid marijuana, 33 pills containing fentanyl, as well as a semi-automatic pistol, two 12-gauge shotguns, and $2,260 in U.S. currency. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case.

United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced KENNETH ANDREW DOERGE, 43, of Billings, Montana on March 7, 2021, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested on August 31, 2021, in Campbell County, Wyoming. Doerge received 21 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.

United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced BRANDON D SPENCE 21, of Casper, Wyoming on March 7, 2022 for distribution of fentanyl. Spence was arrested in Casper, Wyoming on September 24, 2021. He received 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant United States Attorney Margaret M. Vierbuchen prosecuted the case.

Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced WILLIAM TAYLOR, 61, of Cody, Wyoming for distribution of methamphetamine on February 2, 2022. Taylor was arrested on July 27, 2021, in Park County, Wyoming. He was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $250 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to the evidence, Taylor was part of a drug conspiracy that involved shipping methamphetamine via the United States Postal Service between 2020 and 2021. The co-defendants in this case were Phillip Dobbins and Melissa Walsh. This crime was investigated by Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.

United States District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal sentenced MELISSA WALSH, 41, of Citrus Heights, California for distribution of methamphetamine on February 15, 2022. She was arrested on August 2, 2021, in Sacramento, California. Walsh was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $200 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to the evidence, she was part of a drug conspiracy that involved shipping methamphetamine via the United States Postal Service between 2020 and 2021. The co-defendants in this case were Phillip Dobbins and William Taylor. This crime was investigated by Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.

United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced TREVOR HYLLE, 24, of Gillette, Wyoming for transportation of child pornography on February 18, 2022. Hylle received 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. According to the evidence, in 2019 a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to a Dropbox account that contained child pornography. The Dropbox account belonged to Hylle. A subsequent investigation and interview with Hylle concluded he received and/or distributed child pornography on multiple online accounts including Kik, Dropbox, Mega, Snapchat and Tumblr. This crime was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. Hambrick. 

Chief United Stated District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced NEOAL GUYEAL HAYES, 46, of Denver Colorado for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He received 120 months’ imprisonment for count one and 60 months’ imprisonment for count 2 (to be served consecutively), five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $500 community restitution and a $200 special assessment. Hayes was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming on March 10, 2020. During a traffic stop, 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and smaller amounts of cocaine and heroin were seized from his vehicle. A handgun was also located in the vehicle. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Cheyenne Police Department, and Wyoming Highway Patrol investigated the crime. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie I. Sprecher.