Wade Schear, a 42-year-old resident of Gillette, Wyoming, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin on July 17, 2025, in Cheyenne. In addition to his prison term, Schear will serve five years of supervised release.
Schear’s conviction came after a three-day jury trial that concluded on April 30. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that an investigation into methamphetamine distribution in Natrona County had identified Schear as a person of interest. The investigation was conducted by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team.
On June 22, 2024, deputies from the Platte County Sheriff’s Office stopped Schear’s vehicle near Chugwater following a K9 alert indicating the presence of controlled substances. A search of his vehicle uncovered approximately 871 grams of methamphetamine concealed in two large plastic bags within Schear’s backpack.
Further evidence indicated that Schear frequently traveled between Wyoming and Colorado to acquire significant quantities of methamphetamine for distribution in Wyoming. This was not his first offense; he had previously been convicted twice for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Eric Heimann.
