Show-Me State Times

ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the St. Francois County Jail, resulting in the overdose death of an inmate.

Garry W. Triplett, 37, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distributing controlled substances. Timothy L. Noll, 35, of Park Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.

Both men admitted their roles in smuggling drugs into the jail. Noll arrived at the facility on July 27, 2021, and immediately sought someone to smuggle drugs that he could sell within the jail. After finding an intermediary, Noll instructed this person to obtain the drugs from Triplett. This initial transaction was captured on a video call.

Noll also advised the intermediary on how to conceal the drugs within a Bible.

On August 1, an intermediary dropped off the Bible at the jail. The next morning, as Noll was being transferred to state prison and discovered he couldn’t bring the Bible with him, he had staff give it to his cellmate. The cellmate died on August 4 from mixed drug intoxication; his bloodstream contained 19 ng/ml of fentanyl—more than six times a potentially fatal dose—and methamphetamine.

Investigators found a clear plastic baggie with methamphetamine residue and a King James Bible with a detached spine on a shelf in his cell.

Triplett admitted providing three grams each of fentanyl and methamphetamine to the intermediary while Noll admitted passing these controlled substances to his cellmate. They acknowledged that these actions led directly to the cellmate’s death.

Noll is scheduled for sentencing in August and Triplett in September. The charge related to causing death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine.

The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting.