United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming has sentenced four defendants charged in a drug distribution case. ROLAND BRAUBURGER, 42, of Cheyenne Wyoming; KIRSTEN KAY SARRATT, 26 of Cheyenne Wyoming; HENRY GUITIEREZ III, 36, incarcerated at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institute in Torrington, Wyoming; and JOHN OLIVER CLARK, 43, of Casper, Wyoming were all convicted and sentenced related to their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In the fall of 2020, law enforcement became aware of Roland Brauburger’s distribution of controlled substances in multiple Wyoming cities. Through the cooperative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation on the Safe Trails Task Force, the investigation soon revealed that Brauburger, accompanied by his wife Kirsten Sarratt, made regular trips trafficking narcotics mainly in Cheyenne, Casper, Riverton, the Wind River Reservation, and Green River. As his operation continued, Brauburger enlisted the help of Henry Gutierrez and John Clark. Brauburger was also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming prosecuted four individuals involved in the scheme, including: Brauburger, sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment; Sarratt, sentenced to 70 months of imprisonment; Gutierrez sentenced to 71 months and 8 days of imprisonment; and Clark, sentenced to 77 months of imprisonment.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to stopping the flow of methamphetamines into our communities, especially those with vulnerable populations who face addiction,” said 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 tirelessly pursuing tips from the local community.”
“The case involving Roland Brauburger is a prime example of local, state and federal law enforcement working in unison towards a common goal of reducing illegal narcotics in Wyoming,” said Interim Director of Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Forrest Williams. “In 2020, Wyoming DCI became members of the Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and works hand in hand with the FBI on narcotics cases that have a nexus to the Wind River Indian Reservation. With this partnership, Wyoming DCI remains dedicated to curbing the flow of illegal narcotics throughout Wyoming and the Wind River Indian Reservation.”
“Today’s sentences are a direct result of the dedicated work of the FBI and our federal, state, local and tribal partners to combat criminal organizations that distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “The Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals and groups who attempt to further the scourge of drugs and violence in the areas we serve. The FBI thanks the Green River Police Department, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence and collaboration.”
This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Safe Trails Joint Task Force, Green River Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Christyne M. Martens.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN so that it is built on newly articulated core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results of our efforts.
Case Number: 0:21-cr-00075-SWS