26 Arrested in Sweetwater County Meth Ring
An effort between multiple southwestern Wyoming law enforcement agencies led to 26 arrests in an alleged meth ring earlier this week.
According to a Sweetwater County Attorney's Office press release, several law enforcement agencies throughout southwestern Wyoming began the investigation in September 2018. The investigation targeted illegal distribution and transportation of methamphetamine and heroin in Sweetwater County.
During the investigation, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agents learned Alexis "Lexi" K. Morgan and Albert E. Morgan were bringing in several-pound quantities of methamphetamine and heroin to sell in Sweetwater County.
Agents were also able to identify several out-of-state sources located in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
DCI agents conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from the Morgans and several co-conspirators and eventually received more than one kilogram of methamphetamine.
Lab tests showed that the methamphetamine was 99% pure.
Agents also learned that the Morgans own or manage A&M Pawn Shop in Rock Springs and used the business to operate their drug trafficking organization, the release says.
On July 15, multiple law enforcement agencies carried out five search warrants and arrested 26 members of the organization. Others were arrested in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
In total, authorities seized roughly 27 pounds of methamphetamine, 54 guns, several ounces of heroin and thousands of dollars in cash.
The following agencies took part in the investigation:
- Wyoming DCI, Southwest Enforcement Team
- Green River Police Department
- Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office
- Carbon County Sheriff's Office
- Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
- Uinta County Sheriff's Office
- Wyoming Highway Patrol
- Evanston Police Department
The following arrests were made in the operation:
Alexis Kay Morgan, 27, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Delivery of a controlled substance to a person under 18 (marijuana)
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x6
Albert Elbridge Morgan, 52, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x3
Katelyn Marie Shelton, 26, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (heroin)
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Karen Sue Zumpfe, 48, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x2
Marcy Jo Rumler-Sparks, 42, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Carol Ann Lopez-Smith, 51, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x3
Jason Leroy Tomasini, 41, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x2
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance (marijuana)
- Possession of a controlled substance (heroin)
Brandy Marie Penn, 25, Phoenix
- Arrested in Phoenix, no charges listed
Alejandro Borquez, 28, Phoenix
- Arrested in Phoenix, no charges listed
William Everette Shay, 50, Las Vegas
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Sara Kathleen Shepard Scott, 43, Las Vegas
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Nicole Ann Cain, 47, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Lance Russell Collins, 41, Kemmerer
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Interference with a police officer
- Defrauding a drug and alcohol screening test
Kelsi D'Rae Egbert, 28, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Tanya Hernandez-Kidd, 34, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Child endangerment (methamphetamine)
Scott Colin McAlister, 37, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x2
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Lacea Ann Harper-Nix, 27, Rapid City, S.D.
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Christy Ann Harlow, 52, Gillette
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Rusti Jean Long, 26, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x2
- Delivery of a controlled substance (oxycodone)
- Delivery of a controlled substance (Xanax)
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Jamie Lee Dodd, 34, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance
Jason Theodore Stroh, 36, Lyman
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession with intent to deliver (methamphetamine)
Brad Lee Byerly, 33, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) x3
- Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Possession of a controlled substance (marijuana)
Noah James Atherton, 32, Rock Springs
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
- Fleeing or attempting to elude police officers
Lamar Maurice Yarber, 40, Rock Springs
- Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine)
Anthony David Whitney, 45, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) in a drug-free school zone x4
- Conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
Christopher Ray Robertson, 37, Rock Springs
- Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)