FARMINGTON – A Farmington man pleaded guilty to trafficking in heroin in Franklin County Superior Court today, after his brother was sentenced in a related case.
Jacob Gage, 31 of Farmington, pleaded guilty to unlawful trafficking in Scheduled Drugs, a Class B felony, as part of an arranged plea that resulted in a lesser charge of criminal conspiracy being dismissed. Sentencing was continued until Dec. 16, although the plea arrangement includes a 10-month cap on the unsuspended portion of a four-year sentence.
Gage, along with brother Anthony Gage Jr., 27 of Farmington, were both arrested following a Farmington Police Department investigation earlier this year. According to evidence that Assistant Attorney General David Fisher said the state would have presented had the case proceeded to trial, the investigation began after a single-vehicle rollover on Jan. 6. The operator of that vehicle was under the influence of heroin and agreed to cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation of his alleged suppliers.
The operator set up the purchase of “two tickets” of heroin, approximately $80 worth, with Anthony Gage via text messages. However, the delivery of the heroin was made by Jacob Gage. Both Gages were eventually arrested and cooperative with police, Fisher said.
Anthony Gage previously pleaded guilty to unlawful trafficking. He was sentenced Friday to five years, with all but six months suspended, followed by two years of probation. Mitigating factors in the sentencing, according to Justice William Stokes, included Anthony Gage’s addiction and his work to combat that addiction.
Jacob Gage was similarly “doing very well,” according to attorney Paul Corey. While the arranged sentence includes a 10-month cap on time served, Stokes noted that the sentence would need to be consistent with what Anthony Gage received. Jacob Gage’s sentence would also be dependent upon his position in the trafficking operation as compared to his brother, Stokes said, asking the attorneys to address that issue on Dec. 16.
Why do these people get all theses suspended sentences? What’s the point of even giving him a 5 year sentence and then suspending all of it. This is why these people sell drugs. The punishment is seemingly worth the money.
@working citizen.. The reason is because these men are making positive changes for themselves and in the community. They have started support groups for other addicts in recovery and other things to help fight the disease that is taking over our community. They are fully accountable for their actions and are going to continue to work to help better their past mistakes. Not everyone just goes back to what was, don’t judge a book by its cover. God Bless.