Iron County man arrested after search warrant finds illegal drugs, over 50 firearms

IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — An Iron County man has been arrested after police found over 50 firearms and illegal drugs while executing a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation.

Amon Alan Chambers, 41, was arrested and could face felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled substance, unlawful purchase of a firearm with intent to transfer, and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct.

In early May, the Iron Garfield Beaver Counties Narcotics Task Force received information from an informant that Chambers was selling prescription pills. Agents set up a controlled buy and purchased Percocet from Chambers.

A few weeks later, the informant told Chambers that he could not buy a gun because he was a felon, and allegedly, Chambers told the informant to pick out a gun at a pawn shop and that Chambers would buy it for him.

A few weeks after that, Chambers allegedly told the informant that he would show him how to convert an AR-15 to be fully automatic, and that he could show him how to make custom ammunition to help it fire fully automatic.

During the investigation, Chambers was stopped by a Cedar City Police Officer for an unrelated traffic stop. That officer reported that Chambers was visibly nervous and that he appeared to be hiding something in a backpack.

The officer released Chambers with a warning, and Chambers allegedly later told the informant that he had a “mini AK” in the backpack when he was stopped, which he said he had converted to be fully automatic. He reportedly told the informant that he was nervous because he knew that it was a felony to possess a fully automatic firearm.

A few days after that, officers sent a picture of a gun from a pawn shop to the informant and instructed the informant to send it to Chambers. Allegedly, Chambers told the informant that he could turn it into a machine gun and that he would purchase it for the informant.

Officers set up a controlled purchase of the firearm, and he met up with the informant in order to complete the purchase.

Investigators executed a search warrant on Chambers’ home, seizing 57 firearms, large amounts of ammunition and magazines, 4 homemade suppressors, about 15 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, and nearly 200 grams of marijuana. His prescription pills were also seized.

Allegedly, Chambers told investigators that he was selling and exchanging his prescription pills with friends in Iron County. Additionally, he stated that the firearms seized were not fully automatic, but he knew how to convert them.

Following the search warrant, Chambers was arrested.

While in custody, Chambers also allegedly stated that he had more firearms at a sibling’s house that he obtained after the search warrant. He also told the informant after the search warrant that he was thinking of fleeing to avoid arrest.

The arresting officer has requested continued detention for Chambers, stating that he is a danger to the public and could potentially flee the area if released.