From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 8, Number 45 - January 29, 2009
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

Drug conspiracy investigation puts 17 behind bars

by Trey Wilkinson

A culmination of efforts, including work by the Sublette County Sheriff ’s Office Narcotics Task Force (SCSO NTF) dating back to 2005 has resulted in the arrest and sentencing of 17 people involved in two drug conspiracies spanning several western states.

Nine of the 17 were Sublette County residents.

Information released by the SCSO Monday reported that on Nov. 7, 2008, the last of 11 persons were sentenced in a long-term drug conspiracy investigation, which started in 2005, and spanned from Sublette to Sweetwater counties, in Wyoming, to Ogden, Utah, Phoenix, Ariz., and southern California. The joint investigation was between the Division of Criminal Investigation Southwest Enforcement Team (DCISWET), the SCSO NTF and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The first

The first 11 to be sentenced pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William F. Downs and were committed to U.S. prison systems. They are (earliest to most recent):

• Cristian Alan Cruz-Avenda, 24, of Rock Springs; sentenced Oct. 4, 2007, to 10 years, six months, in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to distribution and conspiracy with intent to distribute meth as well as illegal entry as an alien.

• Paul Ontiveros, 24, of Rock Springs; sentenced Nov. 19, 2007, to 10 years, seven months, in prison and five years’ supervised probation, after pleading guilty to distribution and conspiracy with intent to distribute meth as well as illegal entry.

• Milton Robert Peterson, 37, formerly of Pinedale; sentenced Dec. 13, 2007, to 12 years, four months in prison and four years’ supervised probation, after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Jesus Medina-Acosta, 22, of Rock Springs; sentenced Jan. 15, 2008, to seven years, four months, in prison with three years’ supervised probation, after pleading guilty to conspiracy, distribution of meth and illegal entry.

• Timothy Hackney, 44, formerly of Marbleton; sentenced March 5, 2008, to five years in prison and four years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Aracelly Quezada-Moreno, 23, of Rock Springs; sentenced March 6, 2008, to nine years, six months in prison and four years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy, distribution of meth and illegal entry.

• Paul Manzanedo, 57, formerly of Pinedale; sentenced April 8, 2008, to 10 years in prison and five years’ supervised probation for conspiracy and distribution charges.

• Candy Lynn Barber, 27, of Rock Springs; sentenced May 7, 2008, to five years, 10 months, in prison and three years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Justin David McBee, 32, formerly of Big Piney; sentenced May 7, 2008, to three years, 10 months, of supervised release with one year in home confinement after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Russell Jerome Yeager, 41, formerly of Marbleton; sentenced July 8, 2008, to three years, 10 months, in prison and four years supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• John Kevin Eckdahl, 39, formerly of Big Piney; sentenced Nov. 7, 2008, to five years, 10 months, in prison and four years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

The last

On Dec. 19, 2008, the last of six persons were sentenced in another long-term drug conspiracy investigation, which started in 2006, and spanned from Sublette County to the Salt Lake City area. A joint investigation was conducted between the DCISWET, SCSO NTF and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

• Lawrence Jacob Henry Jr., 40, of Bondurant; sentenced March 20, 2008, to 10 years and five years in prison served consecutively as well as five years and three years’ supervised release to be served concurrently after pleading guilty to distribution and conspiracy with intent to distribution meth as well as carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crime.

• Shannon Mechale Bozeman, 31, formerly of Marbleton; sentenced Sept. 19, 2008, to 10 years in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Dwight David Wallace, 42, formerly of Bondurant; sentenced Nov. 24, 2008, to 10 years, one month in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Pablo Sanchez, 51, of Salt Lake City; sentenced Nov. 25, 2008, to 18 years in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Marcie Johnson, 40, of Salt Lake City; sentenced Dec. 10, 2008, to five years in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

• Jennifer Figueroa, 39, of Salt Lake City; sentenced Dec. 19, 2008, to five years, 10 months, in prison and five years’ supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and distribution of meth.

When the investigations began back in August 2005 Sublette County Sheriff Wayne “Bardy” Bardin was unsure how long the investigations would last and was unsure on what the results would be.

“Every drug investigation is different,” he said. “We never know.”

What Bardin does know is that it was a “very extensive investigation” and the end result was more successful than even he had hoped.

Bardin classifieds busts such as these as “extremely important.”

“They (busts) rid the community of distributors of illegal controlled substances,” he said. “We got a lot of folks off the street who were dealing in high quantity.”

Bardin also said it shows that state, federal and local authorities can work together.

Another result of the investigations is less activity on Sublette County streets.

The Sublette County sheriff said since 2005, drug activity in the area is “way down,” and he praised the brave men and women (SCSO NTF) who helped make the whole thing possible.

“It was a lot of work,” Bardin said.

“There were a lot of people who were away from their families for an extended period of time. They grabbed the bull by the horns and this is the fruit of their labor. I just feel fortunate to be a part of the whole thing.”

Law enforcement would like to encourage the public to continue to provide information in a timely manner when they suspect someone engaged in the use and distribution of drugs. The public is welcome to contact DCI, SWET and the SCSO with information regarding illegal drugs.

Even though drug activity is down since 2005, Bardin and the SCSO remain committed to getting those involved with drug activity off the streets.

“As long as there are illegal drugs in our community we are committed to finding, prosecuting and convicting those involved,” he said.

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