Two Wyoming residents have been sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.
Charnele Dawn Jenkins, 31, from Riverton, received a sentence of 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Jenkins was convicted for distributing fentanyl after selling pills to an undercover agent with the Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force in Riverton on August 27, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Jenkins was indicted on January 15 and pleaded guilty on May 27. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson handed down the sentence on August 15 in Cheyenne.
Jeramie Russel Makinen, 40, of Evanston, was sentenced to just over four years in federal prison—51 months and 29 days—and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, aiding and abetting distribution of fentanyl, and distribution of fentanyl. Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) identified Makinen as a person of interest during an investigation into drug trafficking in Sweetwater County. Law enforcement observed him selling both methamphetamine and fentanyl before his arrest during a traffic stop conducted by deputies from the Sweetwater Sheriff’s Office (SSO). The DCI, SSO, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted it; Makinen was indicted on January 15 and pleaded guilty on April 22. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on August 14 in Casper.
The United States Attorney’s Office represents the federal government in litigation involving violations of federal law within Wyoming’s district courts and is responsible for criminal prosecutions as well as civil lawsuits involving or brought by the government.
The office participates in several initiatives aimed at public safety:
The Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force brings together agencies such as tribal police departments, state and local law enforcement, FBI, DEA, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation to address violent crime and drug trafficking in Native American communities across the region.
Project Safe Childhood is a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children.
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide effort that uses resources from multiple DOJ programs—including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)—to target illegal immigration issues as well as transnational criminal organizations.
The Victim Witness Program ensures victims of federal crimes are treated with fairness throughout legal proceedings.
To report a federal crime or seek more information about these programs or ongoing cases handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Wyoming, visit https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime.
"Charnele Dawn Jenkins, 31, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, the defendant sold fentanyl pills to an undercover Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force Agent in Riverton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the crime. Jenkins was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on May 27. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Aug. 15 in Cheyenne."
"Jeramie Russel Makinen, 40, of Evanston, Wyoming, was sentenced to 51 months and 29 days in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, aiding and abetting in the distribution of fentanyl, and distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Rock Springs were investigating drug trafficking in Sweetwater County. Through the progression of the investigation, the defendant was identified as a person of interest. Agents observed Makinen selling methamphetamine and fentanyl. Deputies with the Sweetwater Sheriff’s Office (SSO) later conducted a traffic stop where the defendant was arrested. DCI, SSO, and DEA investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the crime.The defendant was indicted on Jan .15and pleaded guilty on April .22.U .S.District Court Judge Scott W .Skavdahl imposedthe sentenceon Aug .14in Casper."
"The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representingthefederalgovernmentinvirtuallyalllitigationinvolvingtheUnitedStatesintheDistrictofWyoming ,includingallcriminalprosecutionsforviolationsoffederallaw ,civillawsuitsbroughtbyoragainstthegovernment ,andactionstocollectjudgmentsandresti tutiononbehalfofvictimsandtaxpayers.TheOfficeisinvolvedinseveralprogramsdesignedtomakeourcommunitiessafer.Theyinclude:"
"The Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force is a collaborative law enforcement effort focused on combating violent crimeanddrugtrafficking ,especiallywithinNativeAmericancommunitiesintheRockyMountainregion.ItunitestheFBIwithvariouslawenforcementagencies ,includingtribalpolicedepartments ,stateandlocallawenforcement,theDrugEnforcementAdministration ,theBureauofIndianAffairs ,HomelandSecurityInvestigations,U .S.ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement-EnforcementandRemovalOperations,andtheWyomingDivisionofCriminalInvestigation."
"Project Safe Childhood(PSC)isadojinitiativethatcombatstheproliferationoftechnology-facilitatedsexualexploitationcrimesagainstchildren.Thethreatofsexualpredatorssolicitingchildrenforsexualcontactiswell-knownandserious."
"Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resourcesoftheDepartmentofJusticetorepeltheinvasionofillegalimmigration ,achievethetotaleliminationofcartelsandtransnationalcriminalorganizations(TCOs),andprotectourcommunitiesfromtheperpetratorsofviolentcrime.ItalsostreamlineseffortsandresourcesfromtheDepartment’sOrganizedCrimeDrugEnforcementTaskForces(OCDETFs)andProjectSafeNeighborhood(PSN)."
"The Victim Witness CoordinatorfortheUnitedStatesAttorney’sOfficefortheDistrictofWyomingisdedicatedtoensuringvictimsoffederalcrimesandtheirfamilymembersaretreatedwithcompassion,fairness,andrespect."
To report a federal crime go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
