CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Two men were recently sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a drug trafficking ring that was responsible for bringing large quantities of fentanyl into the Cody area.
According to a press release, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the following sentences on Jonathan Castillo, 29, of Casper and Tucker Donald Wirfel, 36, of Cody.
Castillo pled guilty to distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced on Oct. 18 to 90 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release.
Wirfel pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced on Nov. 27 to 92 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered him to make community restitution in the amount of $500.
According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, or DCI, received information that Wirfel was engaged in the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances in the Cody area.
During the investigation, DCI learned that Wirfel and unknown subjects were communicating via text message and the messages were consistent with the use and distribution of fentanyl. During a subsequent search of Wirfel’s residence, agents recovered 124 fentanyl pills.
Further investigation revealed that Castillo arranged for fentanyl to be shipped from Arizona to Wirfel by mail. Investigators intercepted one of the shipments and found a stuffed animal with 1,000 fentanyl pills stitched inside.
Castillo admitted that he acted as the intermediary between the fentanyl distributors in Arizona and buyers in Wyoming.
This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood.
