Several individuals were recently sentenced in federal court for crimes including drug trafficking and illegal re-entry into the United States, according to announcements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.
Edgar Narvaez Vega, 23, of Quito, Ecuador, received a sentence of 27 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. On July 5, 2025, Vega was stopped on I-80 in Wyoming after a trooper noticed marijuana during a traffic stop. A search led to the discovery of large quantities of drugs concealed in trash bags wrapped in plastic and oil. Authorities seized over 74 pounds of methamphetamine along with other narcotics. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Vega was indicted on September 16, 2025, pleaded guilty on November 20, 2025, and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on February 9, 2026.
Leisa Michelle Reese, 47, who has no fixed address, was sentenced to 57 months in prison with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Law enforcement contacted Reese at a hotel parking lot in Crook County on June 11, 2025 after observing suspicious activity. She initially gave a false name but was identified through hotel records and arrested due to an active warrant from South Dakota. Officers found methamphetamine paraphernalia and seized about 517 grams of methamphetamine from her vehicle along with cash and items bearing her name. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case; Reese was indicted September 17 and pleaded guilty November 20 before being sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on February 10.
Dennis Bayless, age 65 from Denver, Colorado received an eight-year sentence—84 months—with five years supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an investigation that began in October 2024 by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Over half a kilogram of methamphetamine was seized at various locations associated with Bayless in Goshen County; he waived indictment and pleaded guilty November 20 after his August arrest last year before being sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
In cases involving illegal re-entry into the United States:
Jose Vazquez, age 50 from Colima, Mexico received six months’ imprisonment plus one year supervised release for illegally re-entering after deportation as well as fraud related to visas and permits; he will be deported following his sentence completion. In July last year authorities traced fraudulent use of a Georgia woman’s social security number back to Vazquez who had been using it for employment documents while possessing another card belonging to someone else; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) determined he had previously been removed from the country in 2006 without applying for permission to return.
Joaquin Mejia-Andrade, age 48 from Mexico City was given an eleven-month sentence plus three years’ supervised release for illegal re-entry after being arrested October last year in Jackson for driving under the influence; ICE determined he had previously been formally removed from the country in October 2016.
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing federal interests within Wyoming—including criminal prosecutions under federal law—and participates in several programs aimed at community safety such as Project Safe Childhood (focused on combating child exploitation online), Operation Take Back America (targeting organized crime groups), and its Victim Witness Program supporting victims throughout legal proceedings.
Information about reporting federal crimes can be found at https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
