Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson provided an update on two men who were arrested and convicted in connection to a Thayne ATM burglary in February of this year. Billy Ray Chavis of Fresno, Texas and Demarcus Thomas of Houston, Texas were both given a sentence of five to eight years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
The two men used tow hooks and a chain connected to a Ford F-250 pickup, causing extensive damage to the ATM machine. The men made off with cash cassettes and fled to an awaiting vehicle, abandoning the pickup. It was determined that the abandoned vehicle was stolen from a residence in Afton.
RELATED: LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF SHANE JOHNSON –
A second Ford F-250 was also stolen from a Thayne residence that same morning which was later found stuck in the snow at the church a short distance from the bank. These incidents took place on February 2, 2025.
The investigation was aided by an officer from the Montpelier Police Department who contacted local investigators after the MPD had responded to a suspicious person who they believed to be related to the ATM burglary.
A third man who has been indicted for the same burglary, Myles Lamar Smith, is currently being held in Dawson County, Montana where he is facing felony charges of Fleeing From Or Eluding a Peace Officer and Criminal Endangerment.
“We had hoped that the FBI might get involved because we believed there are similar instances that have taken place in different states,” Johnson added. “And the fact that banks involve federally insured money. But, we moved forward with our case and those two have now been sentenced and held accountable.”
Sheriff Johnson stated that the belief is that these men are suspected to be part of a group who may also be responsible for a similarly ATM burglary in Alpine in November of 2024.
Johnson also noted that Myles Lamar Smith’s case has not yet been adjudicated in Montana, so while he will still face the legal system in Lincoln County, the timeline for his tranfer to Wyoming is unknown.
“I don’t expect to see him anytime soon,” Johnson said. He also praised the investigative work of Jody Gardner who he believes has helped the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office a way to continue to track down the additional suspects.
“Our investigator, Jody Gardner, has done a heck of a job on this with many interviews and hard work and a lot of search warrants,” Johnson continued. “We have seen a connection to a possible group out of Texas but these particular suspects haven’t come through. But we have a road map to get there so we’ll keep working.”
