Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal recently sentenced five people for their roles in an eight-defendant methamphetamine conspiracy, according to court records.

The case started in December 2014 when a Cheyenne police officer pulled over a car driven by Mark Edward Aylward in the 1700 block of East Lincolnway. The car had Colorado plates, but no rear license plate light. The officer called for a drug-sniffing dog which alerted to marijuana and methamphetamine.

Aylward as charged in a criminal complaint in August 2015. The federal grand jury handed down the indictment of him and the seven other defendants in September.

The indictment says Aylward would buy methamphetamine in Colorado, and distribute it there and in southeastern Wyoming. Two other defendants rented and lived in an apartment in Cheyenne. Defendants also would rent motel rooms in Cheyenne and Wheatland to buy and sell the drugs.

Last week, Freudenthal sentenced Aylward, 46, of Littleton, Colo., for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He received five years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.

These are the other defendants:

Brittany Dawn Creamer Wright, 31, of Wheatland was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting. She received two years, 10 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $200.
Edward Anthony Prusik, 52, also of Wheatland, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He received eight years, four months imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $500.

Allen Ray Plunkett, 46, of Carr, Colo., was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Plunkett was arrested in Wheatland. He received nine years imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $400.

Brandon Keith Kern was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He received eight years, seven months and six days imprisonment, to be followed by four years probation, was ordered to pay $400 in community restitution, and a $100 special assessment.
In March, defendant Richard Shelby Schutt, Jr., was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He received six years, three months imprisonment, to be followed by four years probation, and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and $500 in community restitution.

In February, Wesley John Niles pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine at a safety rest area. His sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

In March, Traci Adelle Raymer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 31.

This case results from an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces joint investigation conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The OCDETF program intends to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

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