Drug Crime Defense

Wyoming Drug Manufacturing Defense Attorney

In Wyoming, drug manufacturing charges are some of the most complicated and serious drug-related crimes. They come with heavy fines, require special forensic evidence, and often come with extra civil and environmental liability. These cases need a strong defense backed by experts.

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    Home » Criminal Defense » Drug Crimes » Drug Manufacturing

    How Drug Manufacturing Is Charged in Wyoming

    According to Wyo. Stat. In Wyoming, making a controlled substance is a felony under § 35-7-1031. It can get you up to twenty years in prison and big fines. Manufacturing doesn’t just mean making a controlled substance; it also means making the chemicals that are used to make it. In Wyoming, the most common crime for which people are charged with manufacturing is making methamphetamine. Because the federal government is interested in meth production cases, the prosecution usually includes both state and federal charges.

    In addition to the criminal charge, lab cases, especially those involving the production of methamphetamine, also create extra liability. Environmental cleanup costs, civil penalties, and the involvement of state and federal agencies can all add up to a lot more money than the criminal fine. Law enforcement sees these places as hazardous materials situations and can take properties used to make drugs under forfeiture laws.

    The Forensic Evidence in Manufacturing Cases

    Manufacturing cases are built on forensic evidence: the chemical analysis of substances and equipment found at the scene, lab reports identifying precursors and products, photographs and inventory of equipment, and witness testimony about the operation. We work with forensic chemistry experts to look over the prosecution’s lab reports, find problems with the testing methods, and see if the evidence really supports the charge of making drugs instead of just having the chemicals needed to make drugs.

    Federal Involvement in Wyoming Drug Manufacturing Cases

    The federal government is very interested in cases involving drug manufacturing, especially those involving methamphetamine. Federal sentencing guidelines set the range of penalties for federal crimes, and these cases are tried in federal district court. If there is a real chance of parallel prosecution in a manufacturing case, it is important to have lawyers who are experienced in both state and federal criminal defense.

    Penalty Grid
    ManufacturingFederal ExposureForfeitureEnvironmental
    Up to 20 yearsAdditionalProperty at riskCivil liability

    Related Charges We Also Defend

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    Aggravated Assault Serious injury, a weapon, or strangulation elevates charges to felony territory.
    Battery Physical contact that causes injury — often charged alongside assault.
    Domestic Violence When assault involves a household member, additional charges and consequences follow.
    Strangulation Wyoming treats strangulation as a separate felony — even without visible injury.
    Violent Crimes See all violent crime charges we defend in Wyoming.
    Self-Defense We build and argue self-defense claims at every stage of your case.

    Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law

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    Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.

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    We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.

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      Suppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme Court

      District Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.

      Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court

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      CASE DISMISSED
      Reckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming

      Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.

      State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      CASE DISMISSED
      DUI / DWUI — Wyoming

      Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.

      State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      Felony Child Abuse — Wyoming

      Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.

      State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court

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    Frequently asked questions about drug manufacturing charges in Wyoming

    Under Wyoming law, drug manufacturing includes making, preparing, propagating, compounding, converting, or processing a controlled substance, either directly or by extracting it from natural substances, chemical synthesis, or a combination of the two. You can also be charged with having drug precursors with the intent to make them. You don’t have to have a finished product to be charged; just having the tools and materials needed to make it can be enough.

    No, but the federal government often gets involved, especially in methamphetamine cases. State charges usually come first, and federal charges may come after that, depending on how big the operation was, how much was involved, and whether federal law enforcement was involved in the investigation. We keep an eye on both state and federal cases and work together to defend them.

    Yes. Under Wyoming and federal forfeiture laws, the government can take property that was used to make drugs, such as the place where the drugs were made, vehicles, equipment, and cash. Forfeiture proceedings are civil, which means they happen separately from the criminal case and use a different standard of proof. We take care of both the criminal defense and the fight over the forfeiture.

    Right away, say that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Don’t let anyone search you more than what is allowed by a warrant. Don’t say anything about the tools or chemicals at the site. The things people say at the scene of a manufacturing investigation are often the most damaging evidence in the whole case. Please call us right away.

    Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve

    We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.

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