Traquevis Dewayne Hardy, a 46-year-old man from Denver, Colorado, has been handed a 168-month (14-year) federal prison sentence for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl across Wyoming. The sentencing, which took place on January 30, was executed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, marking a significant outcome for a case that highlights the ongoing battle against opioid distribution in the United States.
In May 2023, Hardy was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, to which he pleaded not guilty. However, after a trial in October 2023, a federal jury found Hardy guilty. The trial, which unfolded over two days in Casper, Wyoming, presented compelling evidence against Hardy, including testimonies and digital evidence that traced back to him as the source of at least 5,600 fentanyl pills distributed in the Cheyenne area between July and December 2022.
The case against Hardy was a concerted effort involving the Cheyenne Police Department, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Their investigation revealed that Hardy played a crucial role in the fentanyl distribution network, supplying the lethal drug to various individuals who then sold it in Wyoming.