Clifford Pankey, a 42-year-old convicted felon from Phelps County, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for offenses involving firearms and methamphetamine. In July, Pankey plead guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, distribution, manufacture, and possession of meth, as well as possessing numerous unlawful firearms—a list that includes both stolen items and guns with altered serial numbers.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, this case came to light after law enforcement officers executed a court-approved search of Pankey's residence south of St. James on January 26, 2023. The search uncovered an arsenal: a .22 caliber revolver with a partially defaced serial number, a defaced Ruger .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, three rifles, four pistols, and a shotgun. Officers also recovered about 230 grams of meth, which Pankey admitted he intended to quickly distribute and sell.
The conviction was handed down by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey. In an announcement of the sentencing, the evidence was stated as being indicative of Pankey's involvement in the illegal gun and drug trade—arcana that carried a stiff penalty due to his previous record.
The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker prosecuted the case. The collaboration was meant to be a stark reminder of the justice system's resolve in confronting those who brazenly flout to circumvent its laws. Pankey’s admission of guilt and the subsequent stiff sentencing underscore the broader challenges society faces in tackling both gun violence and drug trafficking.
