Cheyenne man sentenced to 10 years after meth found in tow lot vehicle

Christopher Gore will spend the next decade in a federal prison in Ohio after a judge sentenced him on Tuesday for possessing nearly a pound and a quarter of methamphetamine. The drugs were discovered hidden inside an impounded Nissan SUV that had been sitting in a secured lot in Natrona County for weeks following a police chase.

The sequence of events began in January when Natrona County sheriff's deputies pursued Gore in a 2025 Nissan Rogue. The chase ended with his arrest and the SUV being towed to E&F Towing. A county arrest log from Jan. 17 to 19 lists charges including fleeing police, reckless driving, and driving too fast for conditions. The vehicle was parked behind barbed wire and a keypad gate, where it remained undisturbed for several weeks according to federal affidavits.

In February, agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Intelligence began investigating drug activity in the area. On Feb. 26, investigators in Gillette received information suggesting the Nissan contained narcotics. They brought a drug-sniffing dog to the tow yard, which reacted to the SUV. Officers obtained a search warrant and conducted a thorough examination of the vehicle.

Behind the glove compartment, under the stereo and touchscreen, agents found a concealed space filled with evidence. The stash included two large bags of suspected methamphetamine in a smell-proof pouch, a red Tupperware container with a scale, a glass jar, and a green pouch holding additional drugs. They also found a blue pill that investigators believed to be fake oxycodone laced with fentanyl. Under the driver's seat, they located a Croatian-made Springfield handgun with a loaded magazine.

The total weight of the suspected methamphetamine came to approximately 560 grams. Field tests confirmed the substance was meth. Investigators also recovered paperwork in Gore's name, including receipts from sex shops. The Croatian origin of the firearm helped prosecutors establish that the weapon crossed international borders, though Gore was ultimately charged only with the methamphetamine count.

When DCI investigators Tyler Houser and Birkle spoke with Gore at the Natrona County Detention Facility, he initially claimed he had intended to find the drugs and turn them over to police. He later changed his story, stating in a sworn statement that he planned to sell the meth to cover personal expenses. Gore was formally charged on March 27 for possession with intent to distribute.

Gore remained in custody for several months before waiving his right to a grand jury indictment. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 3. His attorney, Thomas Fleener, argued for a reduced sentencing guideline calculation because Gore had already served time and completed parole for a previous offense involving a forged contracting license.

U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson sentenced Gore to 10 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release. The judge recommended that Gore serve his sentence at a federal facility in Elkton, Ohio, and receive drug treatment during his incarceration.