Alexander Villanueva, a 37-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, pled guilty to several charges including reckless driving and possession of an open container of alcohol in Yellowstone National Park. The incident occurred on January 14, 2025, in Mammoth, Wyoming. Law enforcement intervened after a park visitor reported erratic driving. Villanueva was arrested following field sobriety tests and refused to take a breath test. He received a seven-day incarceration sentence with credit for two days served, fines totaling $1,020, and two years of unsupervised probation during which he is barred from entering Yellowstone National Park. Additionally, he is prohibited from operating a vehicle on federal lands for one year.
In another case involving firearm offenses and drug trafficking, Phillip Brent Chiles from Riverton, Wyoming was sentenced to three years’ probation with two months of home confinement. Chiles was found in possession of a firearm as a felon and unlawful user of controlled substances. The investigation began when his child mentioned access to a gun at school. Chiles admitted to using methamphetamine weekly while owning the weapon for hunting purposes despite his felony conviction for burglary in 1983. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on January 16 in Casper.
Joel David Vazquez-Sanchez from Curaren, Francisco Morazan, Honduras was sentenced to time served and will be deported following illegal reentry into the United States. Arrested on July 3, 2024, by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office for DUI charges led ICE agents to discover his prior removal from the U.S., without permission to reenter since September 2016. His sentencing also took place under Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on January 16 in Casper.