Three Men Sentenced For Drug, Illegal Alien Crimes

Federal judges recently sentenced three men for illegal alien and methamphetamine crimes, according to a news release from the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Armando Lopez-Ruiz, 33, of Mexico on Monday for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Lopez-Ruiz was arrested in Jackson. He received time served, plus 10 days, 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.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Noah Vonwerner, 28, on Tuesday, and
Christopher Phillips, 32, on Wednesday for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Vonwerner and Phillips were arrested in Gillette.

Vonwerner received 15 years imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

Phillips received  10 years, one month imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $400 fine and a $100 special assessment.

Both cases were investigated by the 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 OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.