Casper man charged with federal weapons and drug charges

CASPER, Wyoming – A Casper man with an extensive local criminal history was formally charged with being a felon, illegal drug user, and possession of a firearm and ammunition during his initial appearance in federal court in Casper on Friday.

Jesse Mostaert, 33, heard this single count during his first appearance via audio conference before U.S. Judge Michael Shickich.

On May 16, a federal grand jury indicted Mostaert. The indictment states that the alleged crime occurred on February 8.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, three years of probation after release from prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Shickich has set Monday for Mostaert's next court date, which will be the arraignment and detention hearing.

Mostaert has an extensive criminal past and is currently in prison.

In February, he was sentenced to up to 16 years in prison after Judge Josh Eames convicted him of theft and drug trafficking. When police found him in East Casper on Feb. 8, he already had several warrants out for his arrest. According to the Casper police report, Mostaert ran and tried to pull a gun from his waistband before being arrested.

When police responded to a shoplifting incident at Eastridge Mall on October 22, 2023, they allegedly found Mostaert's vehicle abandoned with merchandise from Spencer's, Best Buy and Pro-Image inside. According to the report, Mostaert also stole a lip balm and a power wash sponge seen on television from the Dollar General in Mills on November 10.

Recent changes to the law allow someone who has been convicted of petty theft four times to be charged with a serious crime on their fifth conviction, even if the value of the stolen property is less than $1,000.

Mostaert was also convicted of drug trafficking. Prosecutor Ava Covert said Mostaert sold over a dozen fentanyl pills to undercover agents.

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