Deputies find drug smuggling ring from Mexico, Colorado trafficked into Wyoming jail
DENVER (KDVR) — A 15-month-long, multi-state investigation led to the arrest of 31 suspects and authorities confiscating thousands of fentanyl pills, all thanks to an observant detention deputy’s tip, according to the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming.
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak told reporters on Tuesday that the investigation began in December 2022 when a deputy discovered a manipulated door going from the detention center laundry room to a secured area within the jail. While investigating the door, law enforcement discovered a “shattered glass” block on the exterior wall of the jail.
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Kozak said that after watching security footage, the agency identified a vehicle and an individual suspected of delivering drugs to inmates through the shattered block.
Some of what Kozak described seems like something from Hollywood: an inmate using playing cards to “jimmy” open doors, another inmate calling his wife on a recorded line to request fentanyl from Colorado to be brought to the Wyoming jail, and a third inmate who called to thank the person who brought him jail contraband.
Kozak noted that Cheyenne, Wyoming, is a known distribution hub for drug dealers.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of users and people who are addicted to opioids in our community,” Kozak said. “And so the supply was coming from Mexico through Colorado. Now, yes, I-25 makes it easy for that to happen. I-80 also makes it easy. There’s a lot of drugs being transported on those two interstates, which is why all the agencies involved, they do put a lot of efforts into interdiction.”
Deputy tip spurs quick action from Laramie office
As soon as the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office realized the fentanyl was being trafficked into the jail, deputies sought to track down the source and stop the flow of drugs quickly.
“When you’re dealing with fentanyl investigations, you want to try to track down the source and try to get those involved as fast as you can because you’re trying to save lives because fentanyl is so deadly,” Kozak said during a news conference.
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The investigation was turned over to the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office detective assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force. The detective partnered with an agent of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Together, they said they identified a drug organization operating out of Colorado and Mexico. The organization was supplying fentanyl and methamphetamine to numerous individuals in Laramie County and Southeast Wyoming.
Kozak noted that in Laramie County there were 17 fentanyl poisoning deaths during 2023.
“That’s 17 in our county alone,” Kozak said. “When we talk about fentanyl poisoning, you’ll notice that we don’t ever use the word overdose because overdose is taking too much of something that if you normally take a therapeutic dose, it would be OK. But that’s not the case with fentanyl, because it kills you, no matter what the dose is.”
Pharmaceutical fentanyl is approved for use by medical professionals to treat severe pain, such as advanced cancer pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kozak highlighted one of the suspects in the case, Korysa Shepard, who was released from the Laramie County Jail in February 2023, before going to Fort Collins. There, she died of an overdose.
Kozak said because of these kinds of events, he now gives an opioid reversal drug to each addicted inmate leaving jail.
Investigation results in arrests, drugs seized
During 2023, investigators arrested 31 suspects, including 12 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting. Three federal defendants are awaiting sentencing, and a fourth is awaiting trial, so their names were withheld.
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However, the Laramie County agency shared the names of eight federal defendants and their sentences:
Ryan Bennett, felon in possession of a firearm, intent to deliver fentanyl (66 months federal prison)
Joseph Flores, intent to deliver fentanyl (24 months federal prison)
Raymond Paddock, intent to deliver fentanyl (33 months federal prison)
Daniel Ellis, intent to deliver fentanyl (63 months federal prison)
Michael Guzman, intent to deliver fentanyl (75 months federal prison)
Ashley Hyatt, intent to deliver fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl (65 months federal prison)
Cesar Lerma Hernandez, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl (57 months federal prison)
Miguel Guerrero-Castaneda, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl (57 months federal prison)
One more suspect is currently sought, Anthoney Bryant, who has a felony warrant issued for his arrest on charges of burglary and theft of over $1,000, in addition to several misdemeanor warrants for probation violations, possession of a controlled substance, theft and use of a controlled substance and failure to pay.
Investigators also said they seized over 16,300 fentanyl pills (1,638 grams), 604 grams of methamphetamine, 64 grams of heroin and 4 grams of cocaine; plus five firearms from individuals not allowed to possess firearms.
The agency reported that the investigation required 45 search warrants.
To prevent further fentanyl from circulating in the detention facility, the agency is employing a full-time drug detection dog. Authorities have also covered the glass blocks with a board and added a padlock to the laundry room door to deter further drug smuggling.
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Numerous Wyoming, Colorado and federal agencies aided in the inter-state operation, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, North Metro Drug Trask Force, Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Thornton Police Department and the District of Colorado United States Attorney’s Office.
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