ST. GEORGE — A Colorado woman was sentenced to serve time in federal prison after a traffic stop led to the seizure of more than 80 pounds of methamphetamine – one of the largest seizures in Utah.
On Tuesday, 39-year-old Felicia Ramona Buckley-Bowers, of Denver, Colorado, appeared in U.S. District Court in St. George for sentencing on one felony count of possession of meth with intent to distribute, a federal offense that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years to life in prison depending on the amount of drugs involved.
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Bowers on Feb. 28, 2021, following a late-night traffic stop on northbound Interstate 15 near mile marker 7 in St. George. Bowers was headed home to Denver, Colorado, after a trip to California, according to charging documents filed with the court.
After responding to the scene, a K-9 indicated the possible presence of drugs. Deputies conducted a search and inside of the trunk, deputies located two cardboard boxes that contained a total of 27 packages of suspected meth that weighed 81 pounds combined. Also recovered were 24 grams of suspected heroin.
Bowers was arrested and transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility where she was booked on second-degree felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She was also charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, paraphernalia and open container.
Washington County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Crouse told St. George News the purchase price in Los Angeles for a pound of meth at that time was roughly $2,500 per pound. When the 81 pounds is broken down into grams for street-level sales, the value of the seizure would be as high as $2.9 million, he said.
Four days after Bowers’ arrest, the case was picked up by federal prosecutors and the defendant was indicted by a grand jury on one federal count of possession of meth with intent to distribute. The state subsequently dismissed the charges filed in 5th District Court. Bowers remained in jail while the federal case continued its way through district court.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Bowers’ defense attorney, Christopher J. Salcido, addressed the court saying that over the last year, his client has had significant events take place while she has been in custody, including a death in the family, as well as the birth of a grandbaby, Salcido said.
Not being able to be present for those events or to be there to take care of her family has weighed heavily on Buckley, who has been left with a lot of regret, Salcido said.
Amid the challenges, the defense attorney said Bowers has taken responsibility for her actions and has completed treatment, a program his client did very well in. The attorney continued by asking the court to be compassionate and merciful when rendering the sentence upon his client, and also asked the judge to deviate from the sentencing guidelines in favor of a lighter sentence.
Salcido asked that his client be able to serve out her sentence in a facility as close to Denver as possible to facilitate family visitation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Dent argued for a 57-month sentence based on the fact that Bowers was caught transporting 81 pounds of meth, which is staggering, Dent said, adding that the sentence needs to reflect the seriousness of the crime.
Dent went on to say such a large amount would have released a “tsunami” of drug use and crime in whatever areas where the drugs were heading to, adding it was not the first time the defendant has been caught transporting narcotics during her criminal history dating back more than 15 years.
The prosecutor also mentioned the defendant’s difficult childhood and her history of substance abuse, adding she can receive treatment for those issues while she serves her sentence.
He said the recommended sentence would also serve as a deterrent to others who may consider hauling drugs through Utah.
Prior to handing down his sentence, District Judge Ted Stewart said the case involved a serious offense, considering the amount of drugs recovered, which could have caused extreme harm to many people.
In alignment with the government’s position, Bowers was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison. Once released, she will be placed on three years’ supervision with standard release conditions, in addition to completing a substance abuse program. He also ordered that Bowers be given credit for time served.
The judge also said the court will submit a recommendation to the Bureau of Prisons asking that Bowers be placed in a facility close to Colorado. He closed by reminding the defendant that by entering a guilty plea, she had also waived her right to an appeal. The judge then ordered that Bowers be turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Office.
At the time of the arrest, the defendant was traveling with her husband, 40-year-old Tyler Bowers, who was also arrested and later indicted in federal court. In January, Tyler Bowers was sentenced to serve 70 months in federal prison.
At the time of the couple’s arrest, the seizure of meth was one of the largest in Utah. Less than two weeks ago, officers in St. George recovered 140 pounds of meth during a traffic stop that took place within 5 miles of the stop that sent the Bowers to federal prison.
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