News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2005

Year Long Investigation Nets 19 Arrests
Law Enforcement Joins Together to Dismantle Drug Trafficking Organization

MAY 31--Riverton, Wyoming- Matt Mead, United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the Rocky Mountain Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kurt Dobbs, Director of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), and Doug NoSeep, Chief of the Wind River Police Department (Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA) announced today that the Goodman Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating on the Wind River Indian Reservation (WRIR or Reservation) and in Fremont County has been dismantled. The investigation into the Goodman DTO began a year ago and culminated on Friday, May 27, 2005 with the execution of 28 federal search warrants and 19 arrests.

In 2004, the DEA Casper Office, the DCI Northwest Enforcement Team based in Riverton, and the BIA on the WRIR initiated an investigation into the Goodman DTO. This investigation focused on the narcotic activities of the Goodman DTO - a family-run criminal organization based on the WRIR. The Goodman DTO is responsible for distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and diverted prescription painkillers, such as Oxycodone (OxyContin), Hydrocodone (Vicodin), and Proxyphene (Darvocet), to residents of the Reservation and Fremont County. Investigators estimate that the Goodman DTO distributed at least one pound of methamphetamine each month to clients on the reservation.

The Goodman DTO has been put out of business. The success of this investigation is the direct result of federal, state, and local law enforcement joining together with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to dismantle the Goodman DTO from top to bottom.

United States Attorney Matt Mead stated, “The safety and welfare of the citizens of the Wind River Indian Reservation has been a priority for my office. With these arrests the good people on the reservation will no longer have to endure this drug trafficking organization operating in their backyard.”

In May 2005, the Federal Grand Jury in the District of Wyoming returned two multi-count federal indictments against 18 individuals. On May 27, 2005, law enforcement commenced an operation that resulted in the arrest of 18 individuals indicted federally, one state arrest, and the execution of 28 federal search warrants. The search warrants yielded approximately a half-ounce of methamphetamine, a quarter pound of marijuana, 2,427 prescription pills, and six weapons. The known prescription pills seized were OxyContin, Percocet, Darvocet, and Hydrocodone. The six weapons seized included a SKS assault rifle, three handguns, and two rifles.

“Methamphetamine impacts every community in the region, not just the Wind River Indian Reservation. The methamphetamine distributed by the Goodman DTO is not produced domestically. It is manufactured in super labs in Mexico and smuggled from Mexico. Organized criminal networks distribute methamphetamine to organizations like the Goodman DTO. Methamphetamine corrupts and erodes the foundation of our communities,” stated Jeffrey D. Sweetin, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Rocky Mountain Division.

Among those indicted and arrested was Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribal Judge Lynda Munnell-Noah, the sister of Donna Goodman. Lynda Munnell-Noah has been charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Prescription Pills, Distribution of Prescription Pills, three counts of use of a communications facility, and threatening to assault and murder a law enforcement officer.

Wind River Police Department Chief Doug NoSeep stated, “As the Wind River Police Chief, I have been deeply concerned by the increasing amount of drug use and distribution on the Reservation. I believe this investigation is a step in the right direction in combating illegal drug distribution on the Reservation and surrounding areas.”

The following organizations assisted in the successful conclusion of this investigation:

Riverton Police Department, Lander Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Wind River Police Department, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Attorney’s Office District of Wyoming, and the Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security, the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cody, Wyoming Police Department provided invaluable assistance during the enforcement operation on May 27, 2005.

The defendants indicted federally are charged with various drug trafficking crimes. All charges can be found in either Title 21 or Title 18 of the United States Code (USC). Depending on the charge and the amount of drugs the defendants are alleged to have trafficked, they face prison terms of anywhere from one year to life and fines ranging from $250,000 to $4 million.

The following defendants have been charged federally:

  1. Donna Ree Goodman, 63 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Donna Ree Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, Distribution of Methamphetamine, eight counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense and Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.
  2. Brenda K. Goodman, 40 years old, resident of Riverton, Wyoming. Brenda K. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine, Distribution of Controlled Substances to a Pregnant Person, Distribution of Marijuana to a Person Under the Age of 21, and two counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  3. John J. Goodman, 64 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. John J. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Maintaining a Drug-involved Premises, four counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Prescription Pills.
  4. Mark Rosalez, 36 years old, resident of West Valley, Utah. Mark Rosalez is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and two counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  5. Margaret C’Bearing, 29 years old, resident of Riverton, Wyoming. Margaret C’Bearing is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  6. Irene J. Dewey, 40 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Irene J. Dewey is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  7. Tashina L. Goodman, 19 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Tashina L. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana, and Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.
  8. Arlene J. Goodman, 34 years old, resident Riverton, Wyoming. Arlene J. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  9. Darrell “Buddy” W. Goodman, 38 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Darrell W. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  10. Camille T. Goodman, 23 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Camille T. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  11. James E. Goodman, 42 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. James E. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Marijuana to a Person Under the Age of 21, and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  12. Elizabeth “Liz” Goodman, 36 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Elizabeth “Liz” Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana, Distribution of Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felon Drug Offense.
  13. Leslie Sixtoes, 30 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Leslie Sixtoes is charged with Conspiracy to Posses with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and two counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  14. Nicole L. Goodman, 19 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Nicole L. Goodman is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  15. Lynda Munnell-Noah, 57 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Lynda Munnell-Noah is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Prescription Pills, Distribution of Prescription Pills, two counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense, and Threats Against a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.
  16. Alfreda J. Smith, 61 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Alfreda J. Smith is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute, Prescription Pills, Distribution of Prescription Pills, two counts Possession with Intent to Distribute Prescription Pills, and Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  17. Melody D. Spoonhunter, 53 years old, resident of the Wind River Indian Reservation. Melody D. Spoonhunter is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Prescription Pills and two counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  18. Charlotte Lonedog, 68 years old, resident of Riverton, Wyoming. Charlotte Lonedog is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Prescription Pills and three counts Use of a Telephone Facility to Facilitate a Felony Drug Offense.
  19. Alvaro R. Palacios, 32 years old, resident of Riverton, Wyoming. Alvaro R. Palacios is being prosecuted by the Fremont County and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Alvaro T. Palacios is being charged under Wyoming Statute 35-7-1031, Delivery of Methamphetamine and Wyoming Statue 35-7-1042, Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine. If convicted Alvaro Palacios could receive a maximum of twenty years and a $20,000 fine on each count.

image- Wind River Indian Reservation Organizational Chart

An indictment is only an accusation. In every criminal case, the accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and the government always as the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. For more information please contact DEA Special Agent Karen Flowers at (303) 705-7351 or Assistant to the U.S. Attorney Marita Cook at (307) 772-2124.