Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison

St. George, Utah – Markeith Candler, 42, of Sterling, Colorado, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment for drug crimes and possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. 

The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Candler pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024, to felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.  In addition to his term of imprisonment, Candler was sentenced to five years of supervised release. 

According to court documents and statements made at Candler’s sentencing hearing, on January 12, 2024, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop for speeding. Inside the vehicle, Candler was the rear passenger. During a check of the vehicle, a K9 provided a positive indication to narcotics. During a search of the vehicle, troopers found a Glock 22, later identified as Candler’s. The firearm possessed a switch, that allowed for the gun to be used as an automatic weapon and was loaded with a magazine and a round in the chamber. Additional magazines, including large capacity magazines, were found next to the firearm. Troopers also found 743 grams of a white powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine and found one pound of marijuana. 

For more than 20 years, Candler has been committing violent and weapons-related offenses and serving sentences for those crimes. For example, while on probation for a prior robbery, Candler committed an armed robbery at a credit union where an employee was held at gun point. He served 120 months’ imprisonment, and five years’ supervised release for that armed bank robbery.

State Bureau of Investigation

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. 

The case was investigated jointly by the Department of Public Safety Utah Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation. 

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Burton of 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.