Wyoming Federal Judges Sentence Nine People

Federal judges recently sentenced people in the past two weeks for crimes including drug trafficking, child abuse, child pornography, fraud and money laundering, according to the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Mary Elaine Whitney, 62, of Casper for wrongful conversion of Social Security payments. 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.

Whitney served as a representative payee for her son who was a beneficiary of Supplemental Security Income benefits and resident of Circle C Resources Living Facility in Casper. SSI benefits may be paid to a representative payee who is then required to use all of the money for the beneficiary’s care. An audit at Circle C Resources determined Whitney had not been providing SSI payments to it. Between January 2005 and February 2015, Whitney received more than $65,000 in SSI benefits on behalf of her son, but used the money herself.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal sentenced Gwenellyn Jackson, 57, of Cheyenne for conspiracy to launder money. She received two years, six months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation. Jackson was arrested in Birmingham, Ala.

Freudenthal sentenced Clark Champion Crow, 36, of Lincoln City, Ore., for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or less of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting.  He received five years imprisonment, to be followed by four years of probation. Crow was arrested in Rawlins.

She also sentenced Denise Renee Nelson-Marchetti, 46, of Lander for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She received two years of probation.

In another drug crime, Skavdahl sentenced Ronald H. Stallings, 49, of Rapid City, S.D., for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He received six years, six months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation. Stallings was arrested in Gillette.

Skavdahl sentenced Daniel Nathan Bruce, 33, of Casper for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. He received one year, nine months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation.

He also sentenced John William Spoonhunter, 32, of Arapahoe for child abuse. He received five years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Spoonhunter was arrested in Fort Washakie.
U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Brian James Fenske, 48, of Paynesville, Minn., for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He received three years, 10 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation. Fenske was arrested in Casper.
Johnson also sentenced Scott Wyman Burgan, 59, of Sheridan for possession of child pornography. He received three years, five months imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and restitution in the amount of $12,000. Burgan was arrested in Cheyenne.