Cheyenne Man Gets 15 Years in Federal Prison for Gun Crime

A Cheyenne man with a history of violence who was arrested in March of 2023 after kidnapping a woman and threatening to shoot her has been sentenced to federal prison.

RELATED: Cheyenne Man Arrested for Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping

Chief United States District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on Thursday, Nov. 14 sentenced 43-year-old Zachary James Hernandez to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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Case Background

Hernandez's case started around 11:30 p.m. on March 27, 2023, after he reportedly got into a verbal argument with two men and a woman in the alley behind their house in the 800 block of West 6th Street.

Police say during the argument, Hernandez fired several gunshots into the air and at an unoccupied parked vehicle.

Hernandez then reportedly pointed his gun in the direction of one of the men, forced the woman to enter his white Kia with him, and fled the scene with the woman, holding a gun to her head and threatening to shoot her while she drove.

Police say responding officers were provided with a vehicle description and direction of travel and minutes later, a Laramie County Sheriff’s deputy listening to radio traffic observed the Kia driving near the 400 block of Avenue C and initiated a high-risk traffic stop.

Hernandez was arrested and officers located a Sig Sauer SP 2340 .40-caliber pistol in his Kia.

During questioning, Hernandez admitted to being a felon and to knowing that he was not allowed to possess a firearm.

Hernandez Indicted

Hernandez was indicted on July 19, 2023, and transferred to federal custody in June of 2024. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 21.

Hernandez will be subject to three years of supervised release once he's released from prison.