CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Federal judges in Wyoming recently handed down sentences in a series of significant cases, including a bankruptcy fraud scheme involving misuse of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wyoming, a violent assault in Ethete, the possession of thousands of child sexual assault materials by a Casper man, two separate cases of failure to register as a sex offender in Cheyenne and Riverton, and two cases of illegal reentry into the United States by previously deported individuals.
Bankruptcy fraud scheme
Peter Szanto, 73, of Oceanside, California, was sentenced to time served (two days), three years of supervised release, a $7,000 fine and a $100 special assessment for a bankruptcy fraud scheme. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 21. According to court documents, Szanto engaged in a nine-year scheme to defraud JPMorgan Chase by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises in order to hinder and obstruct the lawful foreclosure of his Newport Beach, California, home, valued at approximately $4.5 million, through repeated misuse of U.S. bankruptcy courts, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming. Szanto was indicted in July 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 10. The FBI investigated the case.
Violent crime
John Darwin Whiteman, 34, of Ethete, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,301.40 in restitution and a $100 special assessment for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. According to court documents, Whiteman and a companion had been drinking when an argument escalated into violence. The victim suffered significant bruising, swollen eyes and lips, a broken tooth, a broken nose, a broken left orbital socket, red marks and bruising around the neck, a burn on the back, lacerations and human bite marks on the arm and leg. The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore prosecuted it.
Child sexual abuse material
Kevin Snyder, 36, of Casper, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child sex abuse material and given a life term of supervised release. The court ordered Snyder to pay $12,000 in restitution and $200 in special assessments. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 20. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force was alerted by staff at the Casper Reentry Center about Snyder, an inmate, who they suspected was accessing child sex abuse material on his phone. The investigation revealed that Snyder had downloaded about 2,600 files of child sexual abuse material, including content involving lewd and lascivious acts, sadomasochism and bestiality. The task force investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Failure to register as a sex offender
Ben Murray, 58, of Cheyenne, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 12. According to court documents, Murray was wanted by the Aurora Police Department in Colorado for failing to register as a sex offender. The Wyoming Fugitive Task Force received information that Murray was residing in Cheyenne. Murray had not registered in Wyoming or any other jurisdiction since February 2020. He waived indictment and pleaded guilty on May 14. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted it.
Delray James Quiver, 46, of Riverton, was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison on Aug. 19 for failure to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, Quiver was released from custody on Jan. 17 and was required to register within three business days of his release. However, as of March 5, Quiver had not registered in Wyoming or any jurisdiction reporting to the federal sex offender database. He was indicted on March 13 and pleaded guilty on May 28. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted it.
Illegal reentry of a previously deported person
Enrique Gomez-Salazar, 34, of San Luis, Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, Gomez-Salazar was arrested by the Rawlins Police Department on May 10 for driving under the influence and booked into the Carbon County Jail. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer processed Gomez-Salazar’s fingerprints, which matched existing records in the database indicating he had previously been deported. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 13.
Martin Avina-Gonzalez, 34, of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced to 104 days in prison, after which deportation proceedings will begin, for illegal entry into the United States. According to court documents, Avina-Gonzalez was arrested by the Evanston Police Department on May 3 for strangulation of a household member, domestic battery, stalking and violating a protection order. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer processed his fingerprints, which matched existing records indicating he had been deported before. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 21.
