All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Riverton, WY) – Riverton man Tyler Riser has been charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine, according to recent federal court documents filed on February 20.
A warrant was issued for Riser’s arrest on February 20, and later executed on February 25, around which point his case was unsealed and made public.
Riser’s initial appearance hearing was held on February 27, before Honorable Judge Teresa McKee in Lander.
“During an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the District of Wyoming, including the Wind River Reservation and surrounding communities, involving both known and suspected drug traffickers and users, Task Force Agents of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information regarding Tyler Riser and his involvement in the distribution of controlled substances,” the complaint document states.
“On January 28, 2025, agents received information that a suspected drug source was enroute from Denver to Wyoming,” the complaint shares, which resulted in agents conducting surveillance of a “suspected delivery location near Riverton.”
Agents then observed the drug source go to Riser’s Riverton residence, where the source remained for a “short time” before departing.
Agents continued to conduct surveillance of Riser’s residence after the drug source left, where they observed “come and go traffic at the location,” prompting law enforcement to initiate traffic stops of two separate vehicles seen leaving the residence.
“The first vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued,” the complaint goes on to inform, during which law enforcement observed “items being thrown out of the vehicle.”
Law enforcement later recovered a package of suspected methamphetamine along the vehicle’s route of travel. The package weighed about five ounces.
The driver, who was subsequently contacted and interviewed, advised that they obtained the methamphetamine from Riser, who “claimed to be in possession of at least one pound of methamphetamine,” according to the driver’s statements.
The second vehicle that was seen leaving Riser’s residence was stopped about an hour after the interview with the first driver was conducted, the complaint continues, which resulted in the seizure of “approximately four ounces of methamphetamine.” The second driver also advised that the methamphetamine was purchased from Riser.
Agents subsequently field-tested a portion of the suspected methamphetamine seized from both vehicles, which received “presumptive positive reactions in each case for the presence of methamphetamine.”
In total, the methamphetamine and packaging weighed more than 270 grams, or roughly 9.5 ounces.
The maximum penalty for a felony methamphetamine distribution charge is 5-40 years imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and no less than 4 years to life of supervised release.
Riser’s detention hearing/preliminary examination has been scheduled for March 4.
County 10 will provide updates on the case as they become available, which can be viewed here.