Members of meth drug ring in Casper sentenced

A drug trafficking case involving three people from Casper and their source of supply from Thornton, Colorado, was recently closed after all the parties involved were sentenced.

William J. Varney, 57 of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Varney pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne.

Jolyn K. Furley, 50, of Thornton, Colorado, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Furley pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 28 in Cheyenne.

Julia Carlene Deshaw, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Deshaw pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2024. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on March 14 in Cheyenne.

Gerald Dehnert, 65, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting. Dehnert pleaded guilty on Jan. 8, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on April 1 in Cheyenne.

According to court documents, in August and September of 2023, Special Agents of the Central Enforcement Team of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation received information that Julia Deshaw and William Varney were suspected of distributing large amounts of methamphetamine within the Natrona County area. Through the investigation, they learned that Deshaw, Varney, and Dehnert took turns driving to Colorado up to two times a week, bringing back approximately one to five pounds of methamphetamine each time for redistribution. Through surveillance and other investigative tactics, agents determined their supplier was Jolyn Furley.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Mills Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.