Several individuals were recently sentenced in federal court for crimes prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, according to announcements from the office.
Cassandra Lee Corbin, 36, with no permanent address, received a sentence of 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for theft of government funds. Court documents show that Corbin was receiving Survivor Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) as custodian of her two minor children after her husband’s death. From November 2020 until May 2023, Corbin no longer had custody of her children but failed to notify the SSA and continued to collect benefits on their behalf. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Corbin was indicted on May 12 and pleaded guilty on June 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on September 25 in Cheyenne.
In another case, Cole Posey, 35, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 50 months in prison with three years of supervised release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. On May 1, law enforcement responded to a residence in Ethete where Posey had assaulted a victim who required emergency medical care for a displaced nasal fracture and other injuries. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the FBI investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case; Posey was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on July 1. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed sentencing on September 23.
Gonnie Chad Luis Angatomope Mendez (also known as Luis Mendez), age 44 with no permanent residence, received a sentence of 51 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release for threatening a witness or victim with physical force. According to court documents, Mendez abused both his partner and a child living in the home and threatened harm if anyone reported his actions to authorities. He admitted using threats and physical force to prevent communication with law enforcement officials about his assaults. The FBI investigated this matter; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted it before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed sentencing on September 22.
Carlos Salazar, age 50 without a permanent address, was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison followed by four years’ supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an investigation that began in December 2024 by Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Salazar purchased drugs from Colorado sources and distributed them within Wyoming; he fled law enforcement during an attempted traffic stop before being apprehended after methamphetamine was recovered along his escape route by DCI agents.The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation worked alongside federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations and local authorities like the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted Salazar’s case; he pleaded guilty on May 12 before sentencing by U.S District Court Judge Alan B Johnson on September 24.
Elmer Danillo Martinez Quinteros, age 33 from Santa Barbara, Honduras, received a sentence equal to time served—approximately four months—for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation.Martinez Quinteros had been arrested in Laramie County while driving under the influence; Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) determined he had previously been deported but returned without legal permission. He will be deported following his recent apprehension in Texas earlier this year.
Andres Sanchez Yobal, age 64 from Bozeman Montana,pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle under the influence within Yellowstone National Park without possessing a valid driver’s license. He received a sentence totaling sixty days’ incarceration—with credit given for nineteen days already served—and is banned from Yellowstone National Park during five years’ unsupervised probation ordered by Magistrate Judge Stephanie A Hambrick.
The United States Attorney’s Office represents federal interests throughout Wyoming including criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law.The office is involved in several community safety programs such as Project Safe Childhood—which targets technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children—and Operation Take Back America aimed at countering illegal immigration and organized crime. Additionally, its Victim Witness Program works toward ensuring victims are treated fairly throughout legal proceedings.
