Sentencings for April 15 - April 21, 2016

Three individuals were sentenced April 21, 2016, by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal for their roles in a methamphetamine conspiracy.

Brittany Dawn Wright, 31, of Wheatland, Wyoming, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. Wright was arrested in Wheatland, Wyoming. She received 34 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $200.00.

Edward Anthony Prusik, 52, of Wheatland, Wyoming, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Prusik was arrested in Wheatland, Wyoming. He received 100 months imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $500.00.

Allen Ray Plunkett, 46, of Carr, Colorado, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Plunkett was arrested in Wheatland, Wyoming. He received 108 months imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $400.00.

This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The principal mission of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Filberto Pelayo-Torres, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 20, 2016, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Pelayo-Torres was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received time served, plus ten days, was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment, and is subject to deportation upon release from custody. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Abel Najera-Cruz, aka Mariano Najera-Pena, aka Abel Najera-Pena, 30, of Guatemala, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 20, 2016, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Najera-Cruz was arrested in Riverton, Wyoming. He received time served, plus ten days, was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment, and is subject to deportation upon release from custody. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Irving Felipe Miranda-Saenz, 28, of Mexico, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 20, 2016, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Miranda-Saenz was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received time served, plus ten days, was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and is subject to deportation upon release from custody. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gwenellyn Jackson, 57, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on April 19, 2016, for conspiracy to launder money. Jackson was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama. She received 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and a $200.00 fine. This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The principal mission of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

Scott Wyman Burgan, 59, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District court Judge Alan B. Johnson on April 19, 2016, for possession of child pornography. Burgan was arrested in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He received 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by ten years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment, a $3,000.00 fine and restitution in the amount of $12,000.00. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mary Elaine Whitney, aka Mary Ellen Whitney, 62, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on April 19, 2016, for wrongful conversion of social security payments. Whitney served as a representative payee for her son who was a beneficiary of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and resident of Circle C Resources Living Facility in Casper. SSI is a cash assistance program provided by the Social Security Administration which assures a minimum level of income to persons who are aged, blind, or disabled and who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits may be paid to a representative payee who is then required to use all of the money for the beneficiary’s care. During a representative payee review audit at the Circle C Resources, it was discovered that

Whitney had not been providing SSI payments to the living facility. Between January 2005 and February 2015, Whitney received over $65,000 in SSI benefits on behalf of her son but then wrongly used the money for her own expenses rather than paying for her son’s needs. Whitney received a sentence of six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Whitney was also ordered to pay $65,082.44 in restitution. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

Brian James Fenske, 48, of Paynesville, Minnesota, was sentenced April 19, 2016 by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on April 19, 2016, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Fenske was arrested in Casper, Wyoming. He received 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $250.00. This case was investigated by the Casper Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

Ronald H. Stallings, 49, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on April 15, 2016, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Stallings was arrested in Gillette, Wyoming. He received 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment. This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.