Record at a Glance
- Clemency type
- Pardon
- Presidential term
- 2017–2021
- Federal district
- District of Utah
- Offense
- Possession with intent to distribute marijuana (five counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (three counts); possession of a stolen firearm (two counts); possession of a firearm with a removed serial number; use of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm (two counts); money laundering (three counts)
- Sentence
- 660 months and one day's imprisonment (amended to time served); 36 months' supervised release (November 16, 2004)
- Current status
- The Weldon Project's current team page identifies Angelos as President and Co-Founder.
Original Case
A District of Utah jury convicted Angelos on 16 of 20 counts arising from marijuana sales and firearm possession, including three counts of possessing a gun in furtherance of drug trafficking. Those firearm counts carried stacked mandatory terms that drove a sentence of 660 months and one day—55 years and one day—plus three years of supervision. One count was dismissed and the jury acquitted him on three others. The severe mandatory sentence became a prominent example in debates over federal sentencing reform.
Clemency
On December 22, 2020, Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon for D. Utah No. 2:02-cr-00708-001 PGC and identifies the November 16, 2004 sentence, amended December 7, 2005.
Trump Connection
After his 2016 sentence commutation by President Barack Obama, Angelos participated in the Trump White House’s 2018 Prison Reform Summit and became a public advocate for sentencing reform. Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul, clemency recipient Alice Johnson, and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman supported a full pardon. Trump’s 2020 grant converted that earlier sentence relief into a pardon of the convictions.
Since Clemency
2024 · political development
H.R. 10248, the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act, was introduced.
Legal Status: Proposed legislation; not evidence it became law.
- Development Source
H.R. 10248GovInfo
- Development Source
Sources
- Primary Documentation
DOJ: Pardons Granted by President Donald J. Trump (2017–2021)U.S. Department of Justice2026-09-24 - Primary Documentation
DOJ clemency document: Weldon Hal AngelosU.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney2026-09-24 active - Primary Documentation
White House clemency announcementArchived White House - Primary Documentation
DOJ Solicitor General briefU.S. Department of Justice - Primary Documentation
Signed pardon warrantU.S. Department of Justice - Primary Documentation
GovInfo bill recordGovInfo / U.S. Government - Supporting Reporting
Weldon ProjectThe Weldon Project - Supporting Reporting
The Weldon Project teamThe Weldon Project