Phelps County Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Gun and Meth Offenses

For crimes involving firearms and methamphetamine, Clifford Pankey, a 42-year-old Phelps County convicted criminal, was given a 15-year jail sentence. Pankey entered a guilty plea in July to counts of felon in possession of a firearm, making, distributing, and possessing meth, as well as having a large quantity of illegal firearms, including both stolen goods and firearms with tampered serial numbers.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims that this case was discovered on January 26, 2023, when law enforcement officials searched Pankey’s home south of St. James in accordance with a court order. An armory was found during the investigation, including a defaced Ruger and a.22 caliber revolver with a partially defaced serial number.a shotgun, four handguns, three rifles, and a 380 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Additionally, officers found roughly 230 grams of meth, which Pankey acknowledged he planned to sell and distribute right away.

Judge Henry E. Autrey of the U.S. District Court handed down the conviction. The evidence, according to the sentence statement, showed Pankey’s involvement in the illicit gun and drug trade, which carries a severe penalty because of his prior record.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker handled the case’s prosecution, while the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives headed the investigation. The partnership was intended to serve as a sobering reminder of the legal system’s determination to take on individuals who blatantly disregard its laws. The harsh punishment that followed Pankey’s admission of guilt highlights the larger difficulties society has in combating drug trafficking and gun violence.

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