Federal judges in Wyoming recently sentenced defendants in cases involving illegal aliens, drugs, sex offender, and firearms crimes, according to news releases from the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Alton Paul Nelson, 31, of Vanderwagen, N.M., for failure to register as a sex offender. He was arrested in Delta, Colo. He received two years, six months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case.

Skavdahl also sentenced Robert Snyder, 40, of Powell for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received two years, nine months imprisonment, to be followed by two years of probation. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Ricky Lee Capellen, 56, of Riverton for conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Capellen received 10 years imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Johnson also sentenced Joseph Tyrell Devries, 33, of Gillette for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Devries was arrested in Johnson County. He received nine years, two months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the BATF.

Johnson sentenced Luis Enrique Salazar-Benitez, 42, of Sinaloa, Mexico, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Salazar-Benitez was arrested in Casper. He received 11 years, three months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of probation.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal sentenced Kwok Lun Chow, 49, of San Francisco for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Chow was arrested in Cheyenne. He received three years of probation, with the first eight months on home confinement. This case was investigated by the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the DCI.

Freudenthal also sentenced Jerry Allen Campbell, 53, of Colfax, Calif., for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms of marijuana. He received 30 days of imprisonment, with credit for time served. After confinement, Campbell will serve three years of supervised release.

Court records do not indicate why Chow and Campbell received such light sentences.

Judges also sentenced four Mexican nationals for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. The cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Three of the defendants were sentenced to time served plus 10 days, and are subject to deportation upon release from custody:

  • Julio Cesar Munoz-Hernandez, 30, who was arrested in Gillette.
  • Pablo Ramirez-Andrade, 32, who was arrested in Gillette.
  • Rogelio Cabrera-Bedolla, 41, who was arrested in Jackson.

Avel Lopez-Perez, a/k/a Ricardo Alvarez, 45, was arrested in Casper. He received 18 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. He is subject to deportation upon release from custody.

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