Matthew Pruitt, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Wyoming 2023

CHEYENNE, WY – Another Wyoming resident is headed to federal prison after being caught with a firearm they had no legal right to possess. Matthew Pruitt, age 20, of Cheyenne, received a 27-month sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on May 26, 2023, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Pruitt will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment.

The case, a joint effort between the Cheyenne Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), highlights the ongoing struggle to keep guns out of the hands of those already prohibited from owning them. Details of the initial arrest remain sparse, but the conviction speaks to the strength of the evidence gathered by local and federal investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood handled the prosecution.

Meanwhile, in Casper, another case involving illegal firearms and drug use landed a 21-year-old man behind bars. Isaiah Williams, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced on June 14, 2023, to 12 months and one day in prison, plus three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment, for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.

The circumstances of Williams’ arrest are more detailed. On April 14, 2022, a routine traffic stop by the Casper Police Department took a turn when the officer detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed both marijuana and a handgun. Williams readily admitted ownership of the firearm, sealing his fate. This case underscores the dangerous intersection of drug use and gun ownership.

The ATF played a key role in investigating both cases, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to combating firearms-related crime in Wyoming. These sentences, handed down by Judge Johnson, send a clear message: possessing a firearm while legally prohibited or while engaged in drug use carries serious consequences under federal law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, led by Nicholas Vassallo, continues to prioritize these types of prosecutions.

While the press releases offer minimal detail, the cases paint a grim picture of gun crime in Wyoming. The Grimy Times will continue to follow these cases and report on the larger trends driving firearms offenses in the state. The full text of the U.S. Attorney’s Office activity can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-wy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom prosecuted the Williams case.

Related Federal Cases