Organized crime in Wyoming

July 1, 1919, Wyoming became the last state in the region to ban alcohol. During prohibition, the towns of Kemmerer and Rock Springs became regional hubs for bootleggers and organized crime.

July 1, 1919, Wyoming became the last state in the region to ban alcohol. During prohibition, the towns of Kemmerer and Rock Springs became regional hubs for bootleggers and organized crime.

This week marks the 97th anniversary of the Volstead Act, which officially enacted prohibition on January 16, 1920. While most Wyoming politicians favored the recently passed 18th Amendment, at least publicly, the new law was rarely enforced in most parts of the state...

When you think of the mafia, Wyoming probably isn't the first state that comes to mind. However, the tradition of organized crime here in the Cowboy State dates back to our territorial days. When the Union Pacific Railroad first reached Cheyenne in 1867, the rugged frontier outpost was flooded with cattle rustlers, gamblers, bank robbers and vagabonds seeking their fortune...