All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Fremont County, WY) – German Ortiz-Esparza, one of the individuals charged in connection to a recent methamphetamine distribution case involving a subject with “presumed cartel” ties, pled “not guilty” to the charges filed against him at his April 1 arraignment held before the Honorable Judge Teresa McKee in Lander.
Ortiz-Esparza faces two counts of distribution of methamphetamine (and aiding and abetting), possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (and aiding and abetting), conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and alien in possession of a firearm.
A jury trial has been set for May 27.
Currently, there is no complaint document filed for Ortiz-Esparza, but he faces these charges after a Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigation determined he was involved in a methamphetamine distribution case in the Wind River Reservation and surrounding communities, which led to the arrest of Mexican National Oscar Espinoza Duarte.
Ortiz-Esparza remains detained at this time.
The maximum penalty for a distribution of methamphetamine (and aiding and abetting) felony charge is 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years to life of supervised release.
The maximum penalty for a possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (and aiding and abetting) felony charge is 5 to 40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and 4 years to life of supervised release.
The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine felony charge is 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years to life of supervised release.
The maximum penalty for an alien in possession of a firearm felony charge is 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
County 10 will provide updates on this case as they become available, which can be viewed here.