Colorado man charged with supplying Natrona County drug ring

Fernando Hernandez, 32, a Colorado resident, appeared in Natrona County Circuit Court on drug charges on Friday, July 28 (Gregory Hirst, Oil City News)

CASPER, Wyo. — A Colorado man that prosecutors said supplied a Natrona County drug ring has been charged with conspiracy to deliver five different controlled substances.

Fernando Hernandez, 32, a Colorado resident, appeared in Natrona County Circuit Court on the charges on Friday, July 28.

According to an affidavit filed by Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations agents, Hernandez was identified through interviews as Isaiah Wallace’s source of supply for a drug ring that ultimately led to the indictment of over a dozen co-conspirators.

Wallace and his girlfriend, Hope Vallez, were arrested March 17, 2022, after a trip to Colorado where agents say he met with Hernandez in Thorton. Agents say they identified Hernandez through physical surveillance of alleged meetups and court-authorized taps on Wallace’s phone. Federal DEA agents also assisted state agents in surveillance, according to the affidavit.

Agents say they were also informed through an interview with a convicted co-conspirator that Hernandez went by the nickname “Seven.”

On April 25, 2022, Denver DEA agents executed a warrant on Hernandez and located 7,000 fentanyl pills. The affidavit includes receipt of the lab report confirming the controlled substances seized as fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, steroids and marijuana.

In June 2022, agents learned that Hernandez had fled the Denver area and was believed to be in California.

He appeared in Natrona County on Friday after transfer from detention in Colorado, according to court records.

Hernandez filed motions for dismissal of the case from detention in Castle Rock, Colorado, alleging that agents lacked the jurisdictional authority to build probable cause against him using wiretaps authorized in Natrona County.

Hernandez was charged with conspiracy to deliver:

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Judge Brian Christensen set bond at $40,000 cash or surety on Friday.

This story will be updated.