Duo sentenced on drug trafficking charges

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming announced today that a drug trafficking case involving two people was recently closed with both parties being sentenced.

Dusty Harris, 42, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 142 months' imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Harris's co-conspirator, Thelma Faber, 45, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 57 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), while investigating drug trafficking in Fremont County, learned Harris sold controlled substances to enrolled members of the Eastern Shoshone and/or Northern Arapaho tribes on or around the Wind River Indian Reservation. In November 2023, agents learned that Harris was transporting drugs from Colorado to Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff's Office deputies then stopped a vehicle driven by Harris near Shoshoni. Faber was his passenger. A search of the vehicle yielded a seizure of 94 grams of methamphetamine, 34 grams of fentanyl, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of the pair's cell phones revealed a multitude of texts and social media messages being exchanged in late October 2023 through early November 2023 between Harris, Faber, and others regarding the distribution of controlled substances.

Harris and Faber were indicted on January 10 and pleaded guilty on May 9. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Harris on July 31 and Faber on October 21.

This crime was investigated by DCI and Fremont County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist.

Case No. 24-CR-00020