This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ex-aide-to-sen-thad-cochran-receives-30-month-sentence-in-dc-drug-case/2016/01/20/16d13376-bf8b-11e5-83d4-42e3bceea902_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ex-aide to Sen. Thad Cochran receives 30-month sentence in D.C. drug case Ex-aide to Sen. Thad Cochran receives 30-month sentence in D.C. drug case
(about 1 hour later)
A federal judge sentenced a longtime aide to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) Wednesday to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in a drug distribution conspiracy case in the District and cooperated with prosecutors. A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a longtime aide to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in a drug distribution conspiracy case in the District and admitted his role to prosecutors.
Fred W. Pagan, 49, was dismissed in May from his $160,000-a-year job with Cochran and pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Police raided Pagan’s home in Northwest Washington in April and found about 221.3 grams of the drug. Fred W. Pagan, 49, was dismissed in May from his $160,000-a-year job with Cochran and pleaded guilty in August to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Police raided Pagan’s home in Northwest Washington in April and found about 122.3 grams of the drug.
Pagan apologized to Cochran, 78, whose family members and aides supported Pagan in letters to the court and attended an earlier court appearance.Pagan apologized to Cochran, 78, whose family members and aides supported Pagan in letters to the court and attended an earlier court appearance.
[Sen. Thad Cochran attends hearing for ex-aide charged in drug conspiracy][Sen. Thad Cochran attends hearing for ex-aide charged in drug conspiracy]
“I apologize to my family, my friends and especially to Senator Cochran, who treated me like family,” Pagan said. Cochran “took a child from poverty and abuse” and became “like a father figure,” Pagan said.“I apologize to my family, my friends and especially to Senator Cochran, who treated me like family,” Pagan said. Cochran “took a child from poverty and abuse” and became “like a father figure,” Pagan said.
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington said, “In my mind as well as by statute, Mr. Pagan engaged in a very serious drug crime under our laws,” by accepting six shipments of drugs and “converting his home into a stash house.” Howell added, “The conspiracy only stopped when Mr. Pagan was caught.” U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington said, “In my mind as well as by statute, Mr. Pagan engaged in a very serious drug crime under our laws” by accepting six shipments of drugs and “converting his home into a stash house.” Howell added, “The conspiracy only stopped when Mr. Pagan was caught.”
Howell imposed Pagan’s sentence Wednesday after halting a sentencing hearing Friday so that Pagan could meet again with prosecutors to discuss what he knew about the distribution scheme.Howell imposed Pagan’s sentence Wednesday after halting a sentencing hearing Friday so that Pagan could meet again with prosecutors to discuss what he knew about the distribution scheme.
Pagan started working for the senator as a 16-year-old page before becoming an office manager, personal assistant and one of his highest-paid aides. Pagan started working for the senator as a page when he was 16 before becoming an office manager, personal assistant and one of Cochran’s highest-paid aides.
[Longtime aide to Sen. Thad Cochran charged with drug possession][Longtime aide to Sen. Thad Cochran charged with drug possession]
Pagan acknowledged receiving and holding methamphetamine for an unnamed distributor and romantic partner and sometimes requesting amounts for himself and selling small amounts to friends. Pagan acknowledged receiving and holding methamphetamine for an unnamed distributor and romantic partner and sometimes requesting meth for himself and selling small amounts to friends.
Authorities said that they also found gamma-butyrolactone, or GBL, a controlled substance said to build muscle, enhance sexual ability and aid sleep. GBL also breaks down into the “date rape” drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, they said in court filings. Authorities said they also found gamma-butyrolactone, or GBL, a controlled substance said to build muscle, enhance sexual ability and aid sleep. GBL also breaks down into the “date rape” drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, the authorities said in court filings.
Pagan acknowledged ordering and using GBL, a shipment of which was inspected by U.S. customs officials, leading to the investigation. He agreed to forfeit $750 to the government, which Pagan received through what his attorney described as a “party and play” culture of gay life in Washington in which friends at his home reimbursed Pagan in “the same way a person might offer to pay for the wine at a dinner party.” Pagan acknowledged ordering and using GBL, a shipment of which was inspected by U.S. customs officials, leading to the investigation. He agreed to forfeit to the government $750, which Pagan received through what his attorney described as a “party and play” culture of gay life in Washington in which friends at his home reimbursed Pagan in “the same way a person might offer to pay for the wine at a dinner party.”
Pagan “devoted his life to hiding his homosexuality” and concealed his drug use, defense attorney Kobie A. Flowers wrote in filings to Howell before the sentencing, asking for leniency. Pagan “devoted his life to hiding his homosexuality” and concealed his drug use, defense attorney Kobie A. Flowers wrote in filings to Howell — before the sentencing — that asked for leniency.
“Addicts should be treated as patients, not as prisoners,” Flowers wrote, seeking a sentence of 36 months probation and drug treatment. “Addicts should be treated as patients, not as prisoners,” Flowers wrote. He sought a sentence of 36 months probation and drug treatment.
Cochran; his wife, Kay Webber Cochran; his daughter, Kate Cochran; the senator’s chief of staff; and two former chiefs of staff were among 30 people who wrote letters ahead of the hearing attesting to Pagan’s character and service.Cochran; his wife, Kay Webber Cochran; his daughter, Kate Cochran; the senator’s chief of staff; and two former chiefs of staff were among 30 people who wrote letters ahead of the hearing attesting to Pagan’s character and service.
Pagan was energetic, dutiful and dependable and over more than 30 years became “one of the Senate’s best known and appreciated” employees, Cochran wrote. “It is my intention to help him get a new start. I have confidence in his commitment to do a good job,” Cochran wrote in his brief letter before sentencing. Pagan was energetic, dutiful and dependable and over more than 30 years became “one of the Senate’s best known and appreciated” employees, Cochran wrote. “It is my intention to help him get a new start. I have confidence in his commitment to do a good job,” Cochran wrote in a brief letter before the sentencing.