Wade Schear, a 42-year-old resident of Gillette, Wyoming, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin on July 17, 2025, in Cheyenne. Following his imprisonment, Schear will also serve five years of supervised release.
Schear was found guilty by a federal jury on April 30 after a three-day trial. The case involved an investigation into methamphetamine distribution led by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team in Natrona County. Schear emerged as a person of interest during this investigation.
On June 22, 2024, the Platte County Sheriff's Office stopped Schear's vehicle near Chugwater. A K9 unit detected controlled substances in the vehicle, leading deputies to discover approximately 871 grams of methamphetamine hidden in two large plastic bags inside Schear’s backpack. Evidence presented at trial revealed that Schear frequently traveled between Wyoming and Colorado to acquire significant quantities of methamphetamine for distribution back in Wyoming.
Schear had previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on two separate occasions. The case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Eric Heimann.
