Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Anthony Owen Pawley, 66, of Murray, Utah, was sentenced today to 96 months' imprisonment after law enforcement arrested him and seized over 40 pounds of methamphetamine,15,000 fentanyl pills, and a firearm with associated ammunition in 2024.

The sentence, imposed by Judge David Sam, comes after Pawley pleaded guilty in February 2025 to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In addition to Pawley's sentence, the court ordered him to five years' supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made at Pawley's change of plea and sentencing hearings, on May 9, 2024, Pawley was stopped for a traffic violation by detectives assigned to the Salt Lake City Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. During a search of the vehicle, detectives found methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and $35,665. During a subsequent search of Pawley's residence and storage unit, detectives found additional methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, a GForce Arms, model GFY-1, 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun, associated ammunition, and $278.

"Protecting our citizens and stopping poisonous drugs from being distributed into our communities is a top priority of the Department of Justice," said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. "I am grateful for our law enforcement partnerships and the U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to prosecute and hold offenders accountable."

"This case shows what can happen when law enforcement comes together to address public safety," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd. "Our officers, detectives, and federal partners moved quickly to coordinate this complex investigation with one goal: protecting our neighborhoods. Their work is directly responsible for removing dangerous drugs from our streets and holding drug traffickers accountable. The Salt Lake City Police Department remains fully committed to tackling the drug crisis head-on. Because of this investigation and the resulting prosecution, Salt Lake City and Utah are safer."

The case was investigated by the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

The Salt Lake City Police Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) is a specialized unit within the department tasked with combating violent crime by identifying and apprehending violent criminals and fugitives. Operating under the SLCPD's Special Operations Division, VCAT collaborates closely with the Investigations Division, patrol divisions, and Data and Research divisions to pinpoint and enforce targeted measures in hot spot areas and regions experiencing a surge in violent crime. Established to address emerging violent crime trends and the activities of repeat violent offenders in Salt Lake City, VCAT coordinates efforts with detectives, the Salt Lake Information Center (SLIC), and the SLCPD's Crime Intelligence and Analysis Unit (CIAU) to identify and apprehend violent offenders.