Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming Byline: Lori Hogan Date: 22 November 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime [Non-automotive content removed.]

Recent Sentencings

Federal Lands Offenses

Mathew Crabtree, 36, of New Market, Alabama, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and refusing to consent to a breath test. For the DUI offense, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on two years of unsupervised probation, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time. For refusing a breath test the defendant was sentenced to pay a $750 fine and serve a seven-day term of incarceration. The defendant received credit for three days previously served and must serve the remaining four days before May 20, 2025. Crabtree pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. 

Matthew Stetzel, age 36, previously of Mammoth, Wyoming, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), refusing to consent to a breath test, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. For the DUI, he was sentenced to a fine of $750 and one year of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that period. He was sentenced to a fine of $100 for the open container violation, and for the refusal to take a breath test, he was sentenced to seven days of incarceration. The defendant has credit for one day previously served and must serve the remaining six days before May 21, 2025. Stetzel pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. 

Drug Trafficking

Ricardo Valencia, 43, of  Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 11, 2022, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over a car speeding on I-80 in Laramie County. Differing stories from the three passengers who claimed to be going to Iowa for different reasons led the trooper to deploy a narcotics detection canine, who then alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle was conducted and approximately 8 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a glass smoking pipe, and numerous clear cellophane packages were seized. Valencia admitted that the items belonged to him. He was indicted on Jan. 11, 2023, arrested in California on state charges in March 2024, and brought into federal custody in May. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 30. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 21, in Cheyenne. WHP and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00012

Nicholas Elton Terry, 40, of Torrington, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months in prison with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over Terry for speeding on I-25 in Laramie County. The trooper said Terry appeared nervous and was unable to produce any documentation for himself or the vehicle. While they figured things out in the patrol vehicle, another trooper deployed a narcotics detection canine who alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. About 1,000 fentanyl pills were located along with three cell phones. Terry was indicted May 16, pleaded guilty Aug. 28 and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 19, in Casper. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and WHP investigated the Crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00072

Contact: Lori Hogan (Contractor)
Public Information Officer
Office: 307-772-2124 
Email: usawy.pio@usdoj.gov
Twitter: @usaowy

Updated November 22, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-075