Gillette man could see life in prison for drug distribution

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GILLETTE, Wyo. — A Gillette man will be sentenced in federal court this July for possession with intent to distribute roughly two pounds of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming.

Wade Schear, 41, of Gillette, could spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty in U.S. District Court for possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine on April 30.

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Schear was identified as a person of interest in a Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation case regarding the possession, transportation, and distribution of controlled substances in Natrona County.

In June of 2024, Platte County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Schear for a traffic violation near Chugwater. A drug dog indicated on the vehicle and a subsequent search yielded two pounds of meth concealed in a backpack, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says, adding that deputies also located multiple cell phones, over $800 in cash and Schear’s personal belongings.

Over a three-day trial, evidence reportedly showed Schear had traveled several times to Colorado to obtain large quantities of meth for distribution in Wyoming. He was convicted by a federal jury on April 30.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Schear is scheduled to appear for sentencing on July 17. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by at least five years to life of supervised release, a $10 million fine, and a $100 special assessment.

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