Farmington Man Sentenced to 22 Years After Jail Drug Smuggling Plan Leads to Cellmate’s Death

Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - A drug smuggling plan inside St. Francois County Jail in Farmington led to a tragic outcome and a lengthy prison sentence for 35-year-old Timothy Noll.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Noll to 22 years in prison after his attempted distribution of drugs in the detention facility resulted in his cellmate's death.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Noll arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, with plans to sell drugs within the facility. He searched for an accomplice and instructed a mediator to send the drugs to 37-year-old Garry Triplett, concealed within a bible. Days later, the mediator delivered the bible to the jail. However, before Noll could access it, he was transferred to a state prison, preventing him from retrieving the bible himself. Noll then requested that jail staff pass the bible to his cellmate. Just two days after receiving the bible, Noll’s cellmate died from  mixed drug intoxication, including fentanyl. Noll later pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances resulting in death.

Triplett also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. Triplett’s sentencing is scheduled for December.