JACKSON, Wyo. — Twenty-eight-year-old Jackson resident Oneil Anthony Findley was convicted by a federal jury on Wednesday, Dec. 11, for the attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug offense and drug conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming, made the announcement on Friday, Dec. 13.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that the trial lasted three days and was held before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) learned that cocaine was being shipped to Jackson while they were investigating a possible drug distribution network in the region.
“This conviction makes it clear that drug traffickers will be prosecuted and punished for poisoning Wyoming communities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann said in the release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming, wrote in the press release that Postal Inspectors intercepted a package of over a pound of cocaine that was shipped to Findley’s P.O. Box under a fictitious name. Findley attempted to pick up the package and was taken into custody for questioning. Findley claimed he was unaware that the package contained cocaine, but made inconsistent statements about the fictitious name and who shipped the cocaine.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, phone data showed that the Defendant communicated with the individual who shipped the cocaine, checked the U.S. Post Office website for information related to the shipment and discussed the distribution of narcotics with other individuals.
“The Government was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Findley knew the package contained the illegal substance and he intended to distribute it,” the Department of Justice said via press release.
The U.S. Post Office said in the announcement that its inspectors will remain “dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of trust placed in the U.S. Mail.”
“We will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the U.S. Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs which impacts the safety of postal employees and postal customers,” USPIS Denver Division Inspector-in-Charge Bryan Musgrove said in a statement. “We thank our law enforcement partners for working with us to combat these crimes in hopes of making our communities a safer place to live and work.”
Sentencing has been set for Feb. 28, 2025. Finley faces up to 44 years in federal prison with three years to life of supervised release, up to a $2.25 million fine and a $300 special assessment.
