GILLETTE, WYOMING – Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming has sentenced eight defendants charged in a drug distribution case. RAYMOND ARTHUR CARNAHAN, KELLY MILES FINNESSEY, TERRY WILLIAM CLIFFORD, CODY LEE SHUCK, ANTONIO CORTES SAEZ, HEATHER RAE THOMAS, QUINTON MICHAEL CASE, and JENNIFER ANN MOSS were all convicted and sentenced related to their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Around September 2019, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began receiving intelligence that Carnahan was distributing methamphetamine in the Gillette, Wyoming area. DCI Agents learned Carnahan’s source of supply was in either Colorado or Arizona. Based on this intelligence, agents determined Carnahan would travel to Denver, Colorado, or Phoenix, Arizona, to meet with his methamphetamine source. Carnahan would then bring the methamphetamine back to Gillette, Wyoming, for distribution.
To effect distribution, Carnahan relied on other individuals, including his co-defendants but excluding Finnessey, to distribute smaller quantities of methamphetamine throughout the community. Carnahan then used the proceeds of these smaller sales to purchase additional methamphetamine from his source of supply.
On January 28, 2019, after a high-speed chase with Carnahan, law enforcement recovered twelve, one-pound bricks of methamphetamine.
Through further investigation, DCI identified Carnahan’s source of supply as Finnessey of Colorado.
Ultimately, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming prosecuted eight individuals involved in the scheme, including: Carnahan, sentenced to 200 months imprisonment; Finnessey, sentenced to 168 months imprisonment; Clifford, sentenced to 200 months imprisonment; Shuck, sentenced to 120 months imprisonment; Saez, sentenced to 121 months imprisonment; Thomas, sentenced to 97 months imprisonment; Case, sentenced to 130 months imprisonment; and Moss, sentenced to 169 months imprisonment.
“Methamphetamine continues to be Wyoming’s number one drug problem. This office’s concern is not only for the users who struggle daily with addiction, but also for their family and friends. Especially children living with a meth-addicted parent who are often neglected and subjected to dangerous, unpredictable conditions,” said Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray. “Our strategy is to reduce the availability of methamphetamine throughout Wyoming by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to combat drug trafficking. We do this by targeting suspicious activity, using top-notch investigative work and tips from the local community.”
“The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) uses the force multiplier of the statewide drug task forces to combat illegal narcotics distribution in our local communities. This case is a prime example of how effective these task forces can be when local, state, and federal partners work together towards a common goal,” said Matt Waldock, DCI Region 1 Commander. “Drug traffickers exploit individuals with addictions, which leads to increases in other crimes within our communities. DCI remains committed to the enforcement of those who choose to profit from these addictions.”