Casper Couple Arrested on Meth Conspiracy Charges
A man and woman face felony charges after allegedly selling methamphetamine in Casper before being stopped Saturday with roughly a pound and a half of meth in their vehicle.
Joseph Gant, 35, is charged with conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, felony possession of meth and possession with intent to deliver. He could face up to 47 years in prison and $65,000 in fines if convicted on all counts.
Ann "Tokyo" Tanquary, 37, faces the same charges, as well as three counts of delivery of methamphetamine. She could face 107 years in prison and $140,000 in fines if convicted.
Charging papers say Tanquary and Gant were known co-conspirators in a meth-trafficking organization which was being watched by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
In the last few days of March, a confidential informant bought just under 14 grams of meth from Tanquary as special agents looked on.
In the same timeframe, a confidential source told agents they were buying their meth from a woman named "Tokyo."
On April 5, an undercover agent bought just over 25 grams of meth from Tanquary, according to an affidavit. However, Tanquary allegedly gave the agent an extra bag of methamphetamine by accident. So, she called the agent and said she wanted another $300.
The next day, an undercover agent bought a similar quantity of meth from Tanquary.
On April 11, Tanquary's probation agent said Tanquary had failed a urine test and tested positive for methamphetamine the previous day.
On Saturday, special agents were waiting for Tanquary and Gant in the area of Interstate 25 and Hat Six Road. Court documents say the agents knew Tanquary and Gant were bringing a load of methamphetamine back to Casper from Colorado.
The pair were known to carry guns, the affidavit says, and Tanquary was a convicted felon, having been convicted March 20 of conspiracy to deliver meth.
A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper found the vehicle in which Tanquary and Gant were traveling. He stopped them near exit 185, after reportedly watching them drive well below the speed limit and seeing that the license plate did not match the vehicle.
Other troopers arrived to assist with the traffic stop. They asked Gant whether there were any guns inside the vehicle. Gant allegedly said 'yes' as he reached for a gun in the driver's side door.
He and Tanquary were detained while troopers secured the gun and searched the car after a drug dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
The search allegedly turned up roughy half a pound of meth in numerous separate plastic bags and in hidden containers throughout the vehicle, a large assortment of plastic bags, a digital scale, several methamphetamine pipes and two pistols -- a 9 mm and a .38 special revolver.
In separate interviews with investigators, the pair allegedly said they had been making frequent trips to Denver, Colo. to buy meth. They would then bring the meth to Casper and sell it to users for $800-$1,000 per ounce.
Gant told authorities Tanquary had most of the connections, so she'd set up the drug deals in Colorado.
He also estimated that since March, he and Tanquary had traveled to Denver at least 20 times to buy meth.
The pair made their initial appearances Monday afternoon in Natrona County Circuit Court. Bond for each of them was set at $100,000 cash or surety.