DEA, DCI Bust Casper-Area Meth Ring; Five Face Felony Charges
Five people each face multiple felony charges after agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated and took down a methamphetamine distribution ring alleged to have been operating in the Casper-area.
Christine Renee Moffat, Federico Mark Gomez Jr., Blake Michael Creekmore, Jason Ean Thompson and Zakary K. Daniel Gunn all faces charges in district court.
Charging papers say on the morning of Sept. 18, Creekmore and Thompson were involved in a controlled drug purchase made by an undercover DEA agent. Creekmore allegedly contacted the undercover agent to set up the sale, which took place in an alley behind a Casper-area Loaf N Jug.
Thompson allegedly handed over a baggie containing a small amount of meth, while Creekmore gave the agent what was supposed to be MDMA, or ecstasy, in powder form, though the supposed ecstasy was not identified as a controlled substance when tested by the State Crime Laboratory.
Having obtained a search warrant, investigators found Facebook messages between Creekmore and Thompson which allegedly referenced drug sales.
Court documents say Gomez was identified as a source or distributor of meth for a controlled drug purchase on the morning of Sept. 27, with Creekmore acting as the buyer or re-distributor.
During the controlled buy, which was completed under the constant supervision of DCI and DEA agents, Creekmore allegedly said that the source of meth for this purchase was the same source as the previous controlled buy.
Agents photographed Gomez and his vehicle during the drug deal.
On Nov. 28, an undercover DEA agent and Thompson arranged via Facebook Messenger for the agent to purchase an ounce of meth for $900. At Thompson's direction, the agent went to an address in Casper.
At the address, the agent also met Gunn, who said the source of the meth wasn't interested in driving to their location, because "she" was afraid of driving with such a large quantity of meth. The agent, Gunn and Thompson drove together to get the meth.
Thompson allegedly told the agent that he was trying to get money in order to travel to Gillette to purchase more meth to redistribute in Casper.
Another controlled drug purchase was conducted at about 7 a.m. on Dec. 18. A DEA agent and Thompson again arranged an exchange of one ounce of meth, this time for $800.
The agent arrived at the address and notified Thompson, who said "she" -- the alleged source of the meth -- was not there yet, so the agent left the apartment. The agent stayed in the area until the source of the meth arrived and, a short time later, Thompson told the agent to return to the apartment.
When the agent pulled up, Thompson took the agent's $800 into the apartment and returned a few minutes later with about 29 grams of meth.
The same day, Moffat was identified as the source of meth for a controlled drug purchase, with Gunn acting as the buyer or re-distributor. Again, DCI supervised the entire drug deal.
During that deal, Gunn reportedly called Moffat to facilitate the logistics of the purchase. Part of that conversation was recorded by DCI and held as evidence.
Agents photographed Moffat and her vehicle during the drug deal.
On Dec. 18, Moffat was again identified as a source of methamphetamine, this time for a controlled drug buy with Thompson as the buyer or re-distributor.
Agents obtained a warrant and found Facebook messages between Moffat and Thompson, who used the name "Jay Gunn." The messages allegedly corroborate the controlled drug deal on Dec. 18.
Charging papers say investigators had been aware of Moffat redistributing methamphetamine since December 2016.
On Jan. 26, a Casper police officer saw a gold-colored SUV driving with a cracked windshield. The officer stopped the SUV, which was driven and solely occupied by Moffat.
Another officer with a drug dog arrived at the scene, and the dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
A search of the SUV allegedly turned up a meth pipe fashioned from an old pill container; a glass container with meth residue; an assortment of pills including Diazepam, Loratab, one 10-mg oxycodone pill and a number of unidentified white pills; a marijuana pipe; two open and half-empty bottles of whiskey; a hand-made "stash can" made out of an oxygen bottle; and other miscellaneous paraphernalia items.
After the traffic stop, Moffat was interviewed by investigating agents and allegedly admitted to redistributing meth to about five people within Natrona County. She claimed she would obtain about two ounces of meth from her source two to four times per week.
Moffat faces two felony meth possession charges, two felony meth delivery charges, a single conspiracy count and five misdemeanor drug possession charges. She pleaded not guilty and could face up to 79 years behind bars if convicted on all counts; her trial is set for June 4.
Gomez was arraigned March 16 on charges of conspiracy, meth delivery and felony meth possession. He could face up to 47 years of imprisonment if convicted on all counts, and his case is on the June 4 trial stack as well.
A booking photo of Gomez was not available.
Thompson was arraigned March 21 on a single conspiracy charge, two counts of delivering meth and a felony possession charge, which carry a combined maximum penalty of 67 years behind bars. His trial is also set for June 4.
Creekmore is set to be arraigned Wednesday, with his case on the June 11 trial stack. He faces charges of conspiracy, meth delivery and felony meth possession. Those three charges carry a maximum combined penalty of 47 years imprisonment.
Gunn is set for to be arraigned April 5, with his case on the July 16 trial stack. Gunn faces the same charges as Creekmore and would face the same penalty if convicted on all counts.