CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man will be serving time in jail for his part in a drug transaction.
Police say on April 29, 2022, they were called to the area of Apple Street in Clearfield Borough in response to a report that someone had stopped their vehicle and thrown out a cigarette carton containing a credit card and pills.
The car was traced to Gino Moore, 33, Clearfield, who matched the description given by a witness. Further investigation revealed that Moore had arranged with Thomas Anthony Norris, 36, also of Clearfield, for Moore to purchase oxycodone pills.
When police arrived on the scene, Norris was seen in the area looking for something. He said he was not the one who called police.
The officer next contacted the caller who supplied them with the carton that held a bank card with the name Thomas Norris, a receipt for a cash withdrawal and five blue pills, later determined to be Oxycodone.
Next the officer spoke with Norris, who explained that he gave Moore his bank card because he was going to lend him some money. He eventually admitted he was giving him money to purchase drugs.
“He stated that Moore was sick and needed the pills due to withdrawal,” according to the criminal complaint.
At this point, Norris said he did not know Moore was going to give him any pills.
A review of text messages between the two confirmed that the drop of the pills in an empty cigarette carton was arranged between them.
Norris reportedly told Moore in the messages he wanted eight pills, but he would “throw” Moore three of them.
In plea and sentencing court on Monday, Moore pleaded guilty to a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and was sentenced by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to serve six months to two years, less one day in the county jail with three years of probation. He was also ordered to undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and complete 100 hours of community service.
In October, Norris pleaded guilty to conspiracy/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.
He was sentenced by Ammerman to serve six months to one year in the county jail with four years probation.