HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. – A man from Altoona, Pennsylvania has been sentenced to six to 20 years in prison for selling drugs that led to a fatal overdose. Timothy James Tombs, 50, was found guilty of selling heroin laced with a deadly substance, resulting in the death of 28-year-old Philip L. Nicolini.
The sentencing was imposed by President Judge Wade Kagarise after Tombs pleaded guilty to drug delivery resulting in Nicolini’s death. According to charges, Tombs sold $100 worth of heroin to Nicolini, who then overdosed. The heroin was found to be laced with Para-FluoroFentanyl, a substance known to be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
During the court proceedings, Nicolini’s father, Philip A. Nicolini, expressed the emotional toll of his son’s death. He revealed that his son was a disabled military veteran and had been gone for a year and nine months.
Assistant District Attorney John Hicks stated that the family was in support of the recommended sentence, and the father confirmed their forgiveness. “We forgive him,” Nicolini said. “It could have been anybody who died.”
Tombs, who has been detained since his arrest in October 2022, acknowledged his drug addiction and expressed remorse in court. Chief Public Defender Russ Montgomery represented Tombs and stated that Tombs is willing to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy, as part of the sentencing order.
In addition to drug delivery resulting in death, Tombs also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communications facility, and possession of a controlled substance. The investigation leading to the charges involved collecting text messages between Tombs and Nicolini.
The sentencing brings a bittersweet relief to the family of Philip L. Nicolini and highlights the devastating impact of drug addiction and drug-related crimes on communities. The case serves as a reminder of the need for stringent measures in combating drug trafficking and substance abuse within society.