Drug Cases From Special Task Force Continue to see Higher Sentencings

CHEYENNE – Two more recent drug cases from a special task force investigating the larger illegal operations, continued to get high sentencings in federal court. Most recently a Buffalo and Gillette man were both sentenced on methamphetamine charges.

Kenneth J. Canero, 39, of Buffalo, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on February 9, 2016, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Canero was arrested in Gillette.

He received 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $200 fine and a $100 special assessment.

Advertisement - Story continues below...

Michael D. Backes, 39, of Gillette, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on February 5, 2016, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Backes was arrested in Cheyenne.

He received 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and a $100 special assessment.

These case results are 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.

 

Other Federal Sentencings

Gabriel Tena-Bencomo, aka Gabriel Gutierrez, 29, of Mexico, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on February 8, 2016, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Tena-Bencomo was arrested in Jackson. He received 13 months imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, was ordered to pay a $100 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.

 

Josue Tzompa-Ramirez, 30, of Mexico, was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on February 8, 2016, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Tzompa-Ramirez was arrested in Jackson. He received 13 months imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release, was ordered to pay a $100 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.