Press Release: Sentencing of Drug Traffickers Highlights Ongoing Crisis in Native American Communities
A Wyoming man and a Colorado woman were sentenced recently for their roles in drug trafficking to Native American tribes near the Wind River Indian Reservation. Dusty Harris, 42, from Casper, Wyoming, and Thelma Faber, 45, of Greeley, were apprehended in November 2023 while transporting significant amounts of narcotics.
During their traffic stop near Shoshoni, authorities discovered 94 grams of methamphetamine, 34 grams of fentanyl, along with a scale and various drug paraphernalia. Investigators had been tracking Harris, who was previously identified as a supplier of controlled substances to members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.
Faber pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute and was sentenced in October to 57 months in federal prison. The presiding judge recommended her participation in a residential drug abuse program while incarcerated. Following her release, she will be on supervised probation for four years, subject to regular drug tests and required to engage in mental health treatment and vocational training. Currently, she is housed at FCI Phoenix.
Harris, who pleaded guilty to additional charges, received a 142-month prison sentence. He is currently appealing his conviction and is serving time at FCI Leavenworth in Kansas.
The Wind River Reservation is home to over 3,900 Eastern Shoshone and 8,600 Northern Arapaho tribal members. The area has faced significant challenges with methamphetamine use, with the Northern Arapaho tribe declaring a state of emergency in 2020 due to the crisis. Historical reports have highlighted the disproportionate impact of meth addiction within Native American communities, underscoring a widespread and ongoing public health issue.
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