Drug Bust in Gillette Wyoming 2022

Gillette is a coal town and unless you work for one of the mines it’s a pretty tough place to live. It’s expensive to live here and there is almost no housing available for families.

A woman was sentenced to 78 months, six-and-a-half years, in federal court for running a methamphetamine distribution operation. She was also ordered to pay a $400 fine and $100 special assessment.

Drug Bust

Depending on resale price, that amount of meth could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But what happens to the drugs when they’re seized by police? That depends on state and federal laws, and how law enforcement officers handle the contraband.

A Gillette woman who ran a major methamphetamine distribution operation in northeastern Wyoming has been sentenced to prison time. Wendy Kaufman was sentenced to 78 months, or six-and-a-half years, in federal court on Friday.

The alleged meth dealer reportedly sold more than 1,000 pills, about two pounds of meth, and other controlled substances to undercover investigators over the past year. The Campbell County sheriff’s office said the suspect was also in possession of AR-15s and ghost guns.

Meth

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that can be taken orally, injected, snorted or smoked. It can also be used as a cooking ingredient in meth labs. It is known for its intense high that can last a few minutes and for producing a feeling of extreme wakefulness. Long-term meth use can lead to brain damage that affects memory, mood and physical movement. It can even cause heart problems and seizures.

A confidential source told investigators that Kaufman and another person, identified as C.H., would buy 25 pounds of meth every two weeks from a source in Arizona. That amount, based on the drugs’ resale value, could have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The source said that in February, Kaufman dropped a clear plastic baggie containing about four-tenths of an ounce of meth inside the Campo Federal Credit Union in Gillette. A teller notified police, who arrested Kaufman. She faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute meth.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is an opioid that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin and can be fatal in just two milligrams. It’s used in hospitals to treat severe pain, but it’s also being illegally made and sold on the streets. The drug is odorless, tasteless and invisible to the naked eye, so dealers can mix it with other drugs without their buyers knowing. It is also being found in counterfeit pills that look like prescription opioids.

Illegally made fentanyl is available in powder and liquid form and can be added to street drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine or pressed into pills that resemble other prescription opioids. It can be used as nasal spray or eye drops and even dropped onto papers or candies.

The high concentration of fentanyl increases the risk of overdose, especially if a user is unaware that a pill or powder they are taking contains the drug. Fortunately, there is a life-saving medication called Narcan that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses if administered in time.

Marijuana

GILLETTE — A California man faces multiple drug charges after he was found with nearly 300 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop in Campbell County. The sheriff’s office says a deputy clocked a maroon Hyundai going 55 mph in a 65 mph zone on Highway 50 near Red Hills on March 31. The deputy noticed a strong odor coming from the vehicle and initiated a search, which led to the discovery of 296.7 pounds of marijuana.

Depending on the resale price, that amount could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The suspect, identified as Leng Chang of Sacramento, was arrested on felony drug possession and marijuana distribution charges.

Serving Gillette, Wright, Rozet, Recluse, Little Powder, Savageton and all of Campbell County with unbiased news – never behind a paywall. Visit us today to get the latest local news and videos. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to our email newsletters.

Bound back to the main page