Homeless Wyoming Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms, Drug Trafficking Crimes
A homeless man with a long criminal history in Wyoming faces at least five years to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to two federal drug-related crimes on Thursday.
Daniel Gerken entered the pleas to possession with intent to to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm during a federal drug trafficking crime during a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne.
The use of a firearm during the commission of a federal drug-related crime is an automatic five-year sentence added consecutively to the sentencing of any other crime.
Johnson set his sentencing date for June 2. He remains in custody.
Gerken, who was 35 when arrested, earlier had been charged with another count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
Gerken’s criminal history in Wyoming includes convictions for receiving stolen property and drugs.
The federal case started as a state case in Gillette in December, according to the affidavit by a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent that accompanied the criminal complaint.
During the execution of a search warrant, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office met with Gerken who was arrested for possessing marijuana and methamphetamine.
The case moved to Natrona County Circuit Court in February when he was charged with one count of delivery of methamphetamine.
On Feb. 17, Gerken told Judge Steven Brown during his initial appearance that he was homeless, had no phone, was unemployed, and had been in Casper only one day — overnight in the county jail. He said the last place he lived was in Glenrock.
Gerken’s criminal history in Wyoming includes convictions for receiving stolen property and drugs.