CASPER, Wyo. — A state and federal drug investigation that resulted in the seizure of a pound of methamphetamine and multiple firearms in Fremont County has resulted in decade-plus federal prison sentences for two Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming announced Friday.
During an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the jurisdiction, agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation discovered that Oscar Espinoza-Duarte (Espinoza) and German Ortiz-Esparza (Ortiz) “were frequently driving to Denver to pick up large quantities of methamphetamine and returning to the area of the Wind River Indian Reservation, where they sold it to distributors,” according to the release.
On February 25, agents arrested both men at Espinoza’s trailer. According to court documents, Ortiz had 8 grams of cocaine and a 9mm pistol on his person, while Espinoza had a.45 caliber pistol.
“In the trailer agents found a pound of methamphetamine, three additional firearms, including a pistol with an obliterated serial number, and over $5,000 in cash,” according to the announcement.
Espinoza-Duarte, 32, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to 180 months in prison and five years of supervised release for two counts of methamphetamine distribution and aiding and abetting, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, according to the release.
“35-year-old Espinoza-Duarte of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for the distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting that crime and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm,” according to the U.S. Justice Department.
This crime was investigated by the DCI, FBI, and Safe Trails Task Force, with assistance from state and local law enforcement, the BIA, and ICE. Assistant US Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case before US District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
This conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, 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 transactional criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
– U.S. Justice Department, District of Wyoming
