Several federal cases result in prison sentences for fraud, violent crimes and sex crimes

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – Federal judges in Wyoming recently issued rulings in a number of significant cases, including a bankruptcy fraud scheme that abused the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wyoming, a violent attack in Ethete, a Casper man's possession of thousands of child sexual abuse materials, two separate cases of failure to register as a sex offender in Cheyenne and Riverton, and two cases of illegal reentry into the United States by previously deported individuals.

Bankruptcy fraud scheme

Peter Szanto, 73, of Oceanside, California, was sentenced to two days in jail, three years of probation, a $7,000 fine, and a $100 special levy on one count of bankruptcy fraud. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on August 21. According to court documents, Szanto participated in a nine-year fraud scheme in which he defrauded JPMorgan Chase by making materially false and fraudulent pretenses, statements, and promises to prevent and obstruct the lawful foreclosure of his Newport Beach, California, home, valued at approximately $4.5 million. To do so, he repeatedly used U.S. bankruptcy courts, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming. Szanto was indicted in July 2023 and pleaded guilty on May 10. The FBI investigated the case.

Violent crime

John Darwin Whiteman, 34, of Ethete, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $5,301.40 in restitution and a $100 special levy for assault with a dangerous weapon. According to court documents, Whiteman and a companion had been drinking when an argument turned violent. The victim suffered extensive bruising, swollen eyes and lips, a chipped tooth, a broken nose, a broken left eye socket, red marks and bruising on his neck, a burn on his back, cuts and human bite marks on his arm and leg. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore prosecuted.

Material about child sexual abuse

Kevin Snyder, 36, of Casper, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and life probation for possession of child sexual abuse material. The court ordered Snyder to pay $12,000 in restitution and $200 in special levies. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on August 20. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was alerted by Casper Re-Entry Center personnel to inmate Snyder, who was suspected of accessing child sexual abuse material on his cell phone. The investigation found that Snyder had downloaded approximately 2,600 files containing child sexual abuse material, including content depicting lewd and lascivious acts, sadomasochism and zoophilia. The task force investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.

Failure to register as a sex offender

Ben Murray, 58, of Cheyenne, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failure to register as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on August 12. According to court documents, Murray was wanted by the Aurora Police Department in Colorado for failure to register as a sex offender. The Wyoming Fugitive Task Force received information that Murray was a resident of Cheyenne. Murray had not registered in Wyoming or any other county since February 2020. He waived charges and pleaded guilty on May 14. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie Morrison prosecuted.

Delray James Quiver, 46, of Riverton, was sentenced Aug. 19 to 26 months in a federal prison for failure to register as a sex offender. According to court records, Quiver was released from custody Jan. 17 and was required to register within three business days of his release. However, as of March 5, Quiver was not registered in Wyoming or any other state included in the federal sex offender database. He was arraigned on March 13, and pleaded guilty on May 28. U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence in Cheyenne. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case.

Illegal re-entry of a foreigner who has already been deported

Enrique Gomez-Salazar, 34, of San Luis, Potosi, Mexico, was sentenced to 10 days of jail time already served to allow him to face deportation for illegally re-entering the United States. According to court documents, Gomez-Salazar was arrested by Rawlins police on May 10 for driving under the influence and booked into the Carbon County Jail. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer ran Gomez-Salazar's fingerprints, which matched existing records in the database indicating he had been previously deported. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 13.

Martin Avina-Gonzalez, 34, of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, was sentenced to 104 days in jail for illegally entering the United States, after which deportation proceedings will begin. According to court documents, Avina-Gonzalez was arrested by Evanston police on May 3 on charges of strangulation of a household member, domestic violence, stalking and violating a protection order. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officer examined his fingerprints, which matched existing records indicating he had been previously deported. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on August 21.