One-time Sundance resident sentenced as cartel trafficker

SUNDANCE (WNE) — A Wyoming man who was at one time identified as a Sundance resident has been imprisoned for 30 years for distribution of illegal drugs on behalf of a Mexican cartel.

Gabriel Seth Rodgers is reported to have been residing in Sinaloa, Mexico at the time of his arrest, where he was a “load coordinator” for the Sinaloa Cartel.

“The defendant brought large amounts of dangerous drugs into Montana and Wyoming – and then hid behind the cloak of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this office and our law enforcement partners.”

According to court records, Rodgers was coordinating shipments of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine to regions across the United States, including Wyoming.

Rodgers was sentenced in April, 2019 for possession of stolen firearms and conspiracy to distribute LSD and marijuana.

Though his address at that time was listed as Sundance, Rodgers was arrested in Casper. He was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson to 44 months of imprisonment followed by 36 months of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $27,115.57.

When he was released from custody, he absconded and began dealing controlled substances before fleeing to Mexico to act as a “load coordinator” in May, 2023.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Wyoming, an investigation proved that Rodgers coordinated shipments of around 200 pounds of meth, 40 pounds of fentanyl and 11 pounds of cocaine. He is said to have regularly coordinated shipments containing up to 50 pounds of meth and 10,000 fentanyl pills at a time.

In March, a grand jury in the District of Montana indicted Rodgers with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and cocaine and possession with intent to distribute meth and cocaine. Rodgers was arrested on March 27 in a coordinated effort with Mexican authorities and deported to the United States.

The indictment was transferred to Wyoming. On August 18, Rodgers pleaded guilty to all counts charged.

This story was published on Nov. 20, 2025.