CHEYENNE, Wyo. — After a multi-month investigation, the Cheyenne Police Department arrested a local man on suspicion of fentanyl trafficking with ties to a Mexican cartel.
The investigation resulted in Anthony Michael Hernandez’s arrest on July 28. He is charged with four felony counts of conspiracy and four counts of drug sale. He is presumed innocent unless he pleads or is found guilty.
According to a Laramie County court document, the investigation began in April, when detectives from the Cheyenne Police Department’s Community Action Team began looking into fentanyl trafficking in the area. They discovered that Hernandez’s phone had 411 contacts in one month, including a Colorado number linked to a drug cartel based in Mexico.
In April, Cheyenne police contacted a confidential source and discovered 8.65 grams of methamphetamine in two bags, along with four fentanyl pills labeled “M30.” The source was arrested and informed police that they had been “fronted” the drugs by Hernandez. The source stated that they owed Hernandez $300 for the drugs, according to court records.
Investigators searched the source’s cellphone and discovered texts they believe are from Hernandez between April 13 and April 16. On April 13, Hernandez reportedly requested a ride to Colorado, claiming it would “pay 20 of those things.” Another text from Hernandez’s phone stated that he couldn’t pay for the ride until he returned and sold drugs.
A source texted Hernandez on April 16 asking for “some blues,” which a detective identified as fentanyl pills. Hernandez responded, “I’ll give you like 13 for the bill and another ten when I get back from Colorado,” according to the court document.
On May 28, a sergeant watching Hernandez’s home on East 5th Street noticed a Pontiac Grand Prix arriving with another source. They got out of the car and entered the house. Ten minutes later, they returned to their car and drove away. Two officers pulled them over, and a K-9 indicated that there were drugs inside. Officers discovered that the source carried two fentanyl pills in their wallet.
In a later interview, the source told police that Hernandez had sold the drugs, and that they had bought from him four times in the two weeks preceding their arrest. They said they were paying $10 per pill and buying two to three at a time. According to police, Hernandez was seen with a bag containing up to 200 pills.
According to the court document, the source contacted Hernandez via phone or Facebook Messenger and confirmed that he did not own a car and frequently needed rides.
On June 18, detectives spoke with a third confidential source, who was arrested after detectives observed them making a brief visit to Hernandez’s home. According to the source, they went to see a friend, and Hernandez and the friend both inquired about their drug supply. Hernandez also asked for a ride to Colorado to get “some things,” but the source declined because they were on probation. However, the source told police that they had purchased ten fentanyl pills from Hernandez about a year ago.
Phone messages confirmed a transaction involving 1.75 grams of meth for three fentanyl pills. According to the court document, the source stated that they flushed the pills after the transaction out of fear of being arrested.
Throughout the investigation, surveillance at Hernandez’s home revealed people arriving, staying for a short time, and then leaving, which a detective said appeared to be buying and selling illegal drugs.
On July 28, detectives executed a search warrant at Hernandez’s home, where he lives with his parents. During the search, Hernandez and his father were together. Detectives discovered less than 3 grams of suspected methamphetamine in Hernandez’s bedroom, along with a piece of foil containing a partially used suspected fentanyl pill, numerous new packaging bags, and other drug-related items.
Hernandez’s father was interviewed and stated that his son had not worked for nine months. He stated that he was aware Hernandez was selling fentanyl, which he obtained by traveling to Colorado, and that this was how Hernandez paid his approximately $400 monthly rent. According to court documents, the father also claimed to have purchased fentanyl from his son in order to relieve shoulder pain.
Text messages on his cellphone supported the claims, revealing that he purchased fentanyl pills from Hernandez on Saturdays and drove him to buy fentanyl on weekends. He mentioned paying Hernandez $10 per fentanyl pill since she moved in with him in 2024.
After Hernandez was arrested, investigators said he told them he was having trouble getting rides to Colorado lately because he had been “ripping customers off,” according to the affidavit.
