(Fremont County, WY) – An August 7 sentencing hearing has been set for Oscar Espinoza Duarte following a May 15 change of plea hearing, held before the Honorable Judge Scott W Skavdahl in Casper.
Duarte, whom the FBI shared is a Mexican national and has probable cartel ties, was originally only charged with felony methamphetamine distribution, but the charges against him were later updated to include two counts of distribution of methamphetamine (aiding and abetting), possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (aiding and abetting), conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and alien in possession of a firearm.
Duarte faces these charges after a Rocky Mountain Safe Trails Task Force investigation determined he had been distributing methamphetamine in the Wind River Reservation and surrounding communities from his home in the Kinnear area.
Duarte originally pled “not guilty”, and a May 27 jury trial was scheduled.
However, a non-public plea agreement was filed on May 13, and the change of plea hearing was set.
Duarte went on to plead “guilty” to counts 1, 2, 5, and 6, with counts 3 and 4 (possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (aiding and abetting), and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine) to be dismissed at the time of sentencing.
County 10 will provide updates on Duarte’s case as they become available, which can be viewed here.