Dustin Vance Big Medicine, Jr., 24, from Riverton, Wyoming, received a sentence of four months and 11 days in prison followed by three years of supervised release for assaulting a federal officer. According to court records, on June 4, 2025, a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer responded to tribal housing on the Wind River Reservation after reports that Big Medicine was being violent toward emergency medical services employees. The officer arrested Big Medicine, who then spat saliva onto the officer’s ear and face while being escorted to the patrol car. The BIA investigated the incident and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. Big Medicine was indicted on September 16, 2025, pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025, and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin in Cheyenne on February 18, 2026.
Owen Thunder Kennedy, 25, from Farmington, New Mexico, was sentenced to one year in prison with an additional year of supervised release for assault by striking, beating or wounding. Court documents state that Kennedy and the victim were seasonal workers at Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful area when the incident occurred on September 15, 2021. While intoxicated that night, Kennedy forcibly shoved his hand under the victim’s shorts and grabbed her genitalia hard enough to cause pain. Yellowstone National Park Law Enforcement investigated; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted; indictment occurred September 16, 2025; Kennedy pleaded guilty December 5; sentencing took place February 20 in Cheyenne before Chief United States District Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
Christine Holly Jensen of Fort Lupton, Colorado was sentenced to fourteen years (168 months) in prison with four years’ supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Investigators found that Gerald White of Medicine Bow drove from Wyoming to Jensen’s home in Colorado on February 2, 2025; when he returned officers stopped him and found about one-and-a-half pounds (670 grams) of methamphetamine in his truck. Jensen admitted selling methamphetamine to White since at least 2023 after her arrest at home on October 9 last year. The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration; prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson; sentencing took place February 17 before Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
The United States Attorney’s Office represents the federal government in all litigation involving the United States within Wyoming’s district courts—this includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law as well as civil lawsuits involving or brought against the government.
The office participates in programs such as Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at fighting technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children—and Operation Take Back America which targets illegal immigration and organized crime through coordinated federal efforts across agencies including OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Victims’ rights are also supported through a Victim Witness Program dedicated to treating victims with compassion and fairness throughout legal proceedings.
Information about reporting federal crimes can be found at https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime
