Town of Superior, DCI partner to catch drug trafficker
ROCK SPRINGS — After reaching out to a former law enforcement officer, a small-town mayor was able to make a collaborative effort with state agencies to begin investigating a suspected drug dealer.
The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was a driving force behind the operation, but it was Superior Mayor Dominic Wolf and Town of Superior’s Volunteer Police Chief Ozzie Knezovich who reached out to the agency for help.
The bust
According to a statement issued by Wolf, members of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Town of Superior Police Department served a search warrant related to a drug dealing operation in Superior on April 22. The warrant was based on several months of investigation into reports of drugs being sold out of the suspect’s residence in Superior.
Prior to the search warrant, DCI in coordination with the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) arrested Robert Andrew Watts, 50, after a traffic stop. DCI found drugs in his possession. On the same day Watts was arrested, he was released on bail.
Unusual activity
According to Wolf, Superior is a town where folks just want to be left alone, not wanting trouble. Wolf is a lifelong resident of this quiet, little town. The town, hidden by a few hills just 24 miles east of Rock Springs, only has 184 people.
Wolf is serving his eighth year as mayor. Describing himself as “a hands-on mayor,” he plans to run for mayor again.
“I don’t want to see this community fall behind,” Wolf said. “I want the locals and visitors to come here during the warm months and enjoy the events.
“Most importantly, I want everyone to feel safe.”
Explaining the location of Watt’s residence, Wolf said a neighbor lives between Watts and Wolf. The concern arose when he and the neighbors noticed heavy traffic around Watts’ home.
“As soon as we noticed more and more people going in and out of that house, we knew what we were up against,” Wolf said.
Wolf mentioned he has seen drug trafficking in Superior all his life.
“It really hits home because this is such a close community.”
A couple of months ago, Wolf called 911 in reference to “hearing shots fired” near Watts’ home. Authorities discovered someone who had passed through town set off fireworks, trying to get Watts’ attention.
“In Superior, we know who the strangers are and who aren’t,” Wolf said.
Besides seeing the heavy traffic around the home, Knezovich said listening to the people in town boosted the investigation.
“They know what’s going on in their town while others are in denial,” Knezovich said. “One family says, ‘There’s no crime in Superior.’ After about 34 years of law enforcement, it’s easy to tell that they’re in denial.
“Even in the ‘70s, drugs were a huge problem in Superior.”
Wolf concurred, saying there’s different kinds of crime in Superior.
Targeting small towns
Wolf and Knezovich agree drug activities will “get worse,” especially in smaller communities. They said members of the cartel are in the U.S. illegally and they’re starting “to scatter” due to the current mass deportation process under Trump’s administration.
Drug cartels, gangs and drug dealers set up shop in rural America and on Native American reservations, according to Knezovich. With this knowledge, he and Wolf are determined to not let criminals “take over Superior.”
“It’s time for rural America to wake up and take this on,” Knezovich told the Rocket Miner.
Knezovich referred to an NBC News article, which explains how illegal drugs have long flowed from Mexico to the more remote parts of the U.S.
More frequently, traffickers lure Native Americans into becoming dealers by giving away an initial supply of drugs and turning them into addicts indebted to the cartels.
Knezovich expressed his dislike for drug dealers in a nutshell.
“They do so much damage in communities and kids are dying at a high rate because of drugs,” Knezovich said. “In my eyes, it doesn’t make a difference if you’re pointing a gun at someone or giving someone drugs — the result is the same — they can die from it.
“Drug dealers deserve a life sentence when they kill someone with drugs.”
Knezovich said he talked to “one too many” parents who lost their children to drugs.
“It’s devastating to them. It doesn’t take too long to develop a strong dislike for drug dealers who are killing our kids.”
Coming full circle
Wolf knew that he needed to call Knezovich when trouble started brewing in Superior. He gave kudos to Knezovich for stepping up and volunteering his time, guiding the Town of Superior with his expertise. Wolf said this problem would not have been resolved as fast as it did if Knezovich hadn’t been involved.
“If we hadn’t gotten the help we needed, it would have had a big impact on our community,” Wolf said. “We had nothing to help us deal with this issue until someone as educated as Ozzie stepped in.
“Ozzie and I want to keep this town safe in this day and age.”
Wolf also credits residents who participated in the investigation with video footage.
Since Watts was released from the Sweetwater County Detention Center, Wolf said that “no one’s been around his house.”
“That’s a good thing, but the whole thing still bothers me,” he said. “He never learns. He’s a repeat offender. This is his third offense.”
For a while, Wolf was under the impression that Watts was doing well.
“It’s crazy to see how people lose their way — we see so much of that here.”
Wolf said the best thing people can do to help reduce crime is to report it.
“See something, say something,” Wolf said. “It could turn out to be something bigger than you think.”
Even though firearms are a big part of Wyoming’s identity, Wolf expressed confidence in the town’s capability to protect themselves but hopes it doesn’t come down to that.
Currently, Wolf feels he’s not facing these issues alone — the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is communicating with Wolf and is willing to help, working out past issues.
“The sheriff’s office has stepped up to help me and Ozzie,” Wolf said. “It’s all about agencies working together now.”
Wolf and Knezovich expressed their gratitude for the DCI and the WHP for collaborating and assisting the Town of Superior in becoming safer. In Sweetwater County, the only backup small towns have in dealing with these issues is DCI.
“I thank the members of our local DCI task force for the excellent work they did in reference to this investigation and removal of another suspected drug dealer,” Knezovich said. “It just floors me that they’re the only ones who could help us, but I really appreciate their hard work.”
Wolf is a board member of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities. In this position, he is hoping to assist other smaller communities in Wyoming the way Knezovich has helped Superior.
“We’re not politicians — we just love our community and want to keep it going,” Wolf said.
The next court date for Watts is unknown as of press time.
This story was published on May 7, 2025.