Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, who has been linked to Democratic megadonor George Soros, has reportedly been reluctant to file drug distribution charges for suspects caught with fewer than 200 fentanyl pills, often opting to charge them with mere possession instead.
According to a police memo, numerous fentanyl distribution cases sent from the Salt Lake City Police Department to Gill’s office have been downgraded to possession charges.
The memo, from a member of the Special Investigations Squad, advised officers that charging someone with distribution based solely on the number of pills in their possession “is not going to get the distribution charge” under Gill’s guidelines.
The memo explained that Gill’s office typically does not pursue fentanyl distribution charges unless the suspect is found with more than 200 pills. A source familiar with the department criticized this policy, describing it as “absolutely insane” given the dangerous nature of fentanyl and its impact on communities.
The memo further noted that the best evidence for a distribution charge involves a confession obtained after reading a suspect their Miranda rights. Additional supporting evidence might include multiple baggies of pills in equal amounts, clean empty baggies, scales, large amounts of cash, and similar items. However, having only used empty baggies, according to the memo, may indicate personal use rather than distribution.
Critics argue that the threshold set by Gill’s office is too high. In contrast, states like Montana have implemented stricter standards for fentanyl distribution charges. A Montana law passed last year sets the threshold for distribution at 100 pills or 10 grams, significantly lower than the standard reportedly used in Salt Lake County.
Reports from southern Utah also suggest that the 200-pill benchmark is excessive. Utah DEA agent Brady Wilson noted in 2022 that fentanyl dealers in St. George often dealt in quantities between 100 to 200 pills.
One Salt Lake City officer expressed frustration, stating that Gill is “very soft on drug crimes and doesn’t like to go forward with them very often.” The officer added that Gill “picks and chooses” which cases to prosecute, often giving lighter sentences to violent criminals who then reoffend.
In contrast, Gill has been known for aggressively prosecuting police officers involved in incidents of force. For instance, in April 2020, Officer Nick Pierce was charged with aggravated assault after ordering a K9 unit to bite a suspect during a domestic dispute. The case, which dragged on for nearly four years, ultimately resulted in an acquittal. Defense attorney Nathan Evershed called it a “politically motivated trial” and criticized Gill for having an “anxious desire to charge cops.”
Gill is among the 126 prosecutors mentioned in the Media Research Center’s “Law and Disorder” report, which links them to George Soros. The report examined thousands of pages of documents, revealing communications between Soros-linked organizations and Gill, suggesting a political alignment.
When asked for comment on the memo, Gill clarified that it was not an official document and stated that the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office does not have a specific policy requiring a minimum number of pills for a distribution charge. “This office has charged a defendant with distribution when that defendant had significantly fewer than 200 fentanyl pills,” Gill said. He emphasized that decisions to charge depend on the evidence collected and whether it meets the legal criteria for a specific offense.
Gill declined to provide specific numbers on how many fentanyl distribution cases his office had prosecuted in the last year, directing The Post Millennial to file a public records request for that information.
