A Scranton man who threatened informants after being arrested by Lackawanna County narcotics detectives in April for his sizeable crack and cocaine dealing operation will serve at least seven years in prison.
Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo sentenced Phillip Mosley, 34, formerly of 1127 W. Locust St., to seven to 14 years in state prison on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Lackawanna County detectives had been investigating Mr. Mosley for weeks when, in April, they raided an apartment building he owned at 916 W. Linden St. and found $42,500 worth of crack and cocaine, $3,000 worth of Oxycontin pills and two loaded handguns tucked beneath the floorboards. A 12-gauge shotgun was also found in the basement.
They also found $18,020 in profits from his business in the West Locust Street home.
After posting the $150,000 bail holding him at the Lackawanna County Prison, Mr. Mosley allegedly reached out to two individuals who informed against him during the narcotics investigation.
He offered them $20,000 to recant their stories on the witness stand at his upcoming preliminary hearing.
In charging him for the witness intimidation, investigators said Mr. Mosley led the informants to believe that refusing his offer would put their lives in jeopardy.
In August, Mr. Mosley pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and intimidating witnesses.
Judge Geroulo sentenced Mr. Mosley to six years of special probation for the witness intimidation in addition to his prison sentence.
Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleyTT on Twitter