CASPER — An admitted illegal immigrant with “probable” ties to a Mexican drug cartel pleaded guilty Thursday to dealing meth and possessing firearms in a plea deal in U.S. District Court.
Oscar Espinoza Duarte was arrested in Fremont County on Feb. 25 after a law enforcement investigation into drug distribution on the Wind River Reservation.
He faces a minimum of 15 years in prison as part of the deal with Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Gist that calls for two of the six charges he faced to be dropped.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl, Espinoza Duarte wore headphones and a microphone that connected him to a translator as Skavdahl went through the deal and the charges against him.
A thin man with close-cropped hair and beard and wearing a federalgray-striped top and bottom and shackles, Espinoza Duarte sat beside his attorney, Keith Nachbar.
Under the agreement, Espinoza Duarte pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of meth that involved an aid and abet, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
Charges stem from a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation into drug trafficking in Fremont County.
One distribution of meth charge involved his admitted dealing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine to a Riverton man Jan. 28, 2025.
Second Charge
The second distribution charge involved a Feb. 6, 2025, incident where Espinoza Duarte’s home near Kinnear was being watched by agents, and they saw a man leave the home with a package that contained 500 or more grams of meth.
In court Thursday, Duarte was asked if he distributed the drugs with the assistance of a co-defendant and Mexican national.
“Si,” he said.
Nachbar led questioning though the translator asking him about his firearms-related charges. He asked Espinoza Duarte if during drug trafficking he carried a firearm.
“Well, I did have one with me because I worked on a ranch and kept it for protection from coyotes,” he said.
Gist told the court that statements by a witness in the case who did business with Espinoza Duarte was that he “was always armed with a .45-caliber pistol.”
“Yes, I did have it with me some of the time, but not all of the time as he has said,” Espinoza Duarte responded through his translator.
As for being an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm, Espinoza Duarte agreed that he was in the country illegally, but said he was “in the process of obtaining residency.”
Investigators found several weapons at Espinoza Duarte’s home in addition to the Sig Sauer .45-caliber pistol in his waistband at his arrest, Gist said.
Skavdahl accepted Espinoza Duarte’s guilty pleas and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
Charges dropped in the plea deal were charges of possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to distribute meth.
A sentencing hearing was set for Aug. 7.
An FBI statement at the time of Espinoza Duarte’s arrest referenced that he had “probable ties to a known transnational drug trafficking organization.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
