HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County jury on Tuesday convicted an Altoona woman of drug trafficking and possession charges, even though the woman’s defense attorney contended that the drugs found at her residence belonged to a visitor.

“There were no drugs in her possession,” defense attorney Mark Zearfaus told the jurors on behalf of 41-year-old Jacquelyn Clair Gomez, who claimed the drugs belonged to Michael David Nichols of Hollidaysburg.

Nichols, who was at Gomez’s residence on May 11, 2023, the same day her state parole officer made an unannounced visit, was described by the defense as someone who was homeless and stopped to visit with Gomez.

“The biggest mistake she made was being nice, by allowing (Nichols) to stay and shower at her place,” Zearfaus contended.

Trial testimony indicated that the state parole agent summoned police, leading to a search of Gomez’s apartment on the 1300 block of 17th Avenue. Items seized included 45 grams of fentanyl — the equivalent of about 2,300 doses — with a street value of at least $21,000.

“This is not a personal use case,” Altoona Police Cpl. Garrett Trent, narcotics unit supervisor, testified.

Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Thomas asked the jurors to recognize that Gomez and Nichols were working together to bring in drugs from Johns­town to sell in Altoona, as supported by the evidence, including Altoona police interviews with Gomez.

While Gomez initially told Altoona Police Sgt. Caleb Nixon that the drugs weren’t hers, the sometimes fidgety Gomez later spoke of her source in Johnstown and referred to Nichols as the person who does the leg work.

For his closing argument, Thomas replayed the portion of Gomez’s interview where she described the variety of drugs available from her Johnstown source.

“He has so much that he can just throw it at us,” Gomez said.

Thomas told the jury that statement confirmed Gomez’s role in an unlawful effort where her source was willing to provide the drugs and wait for payment.

In Gomez’s defense, Zearfaus told the jury that the prosecution’s case was full of conjecture. He asked jurors to recall that Gomez allowed Nichols to stay at her apartment while she went to work.

“Why is she at work if she’s this huge drug dealer?” Zearfaus asked. “You’re not going to go to work every day if you can move $20,000 in drugs … and who had money on them? Mr. Nichols.”

Police reported seizing $919 cash from Nichols’ wallet that he allegedly told them was a result of drug sales he made before he stopped at Gomez’s apartment.

Nichols, who wasn’t called as a witness in Gomez’s trial, has already entered guilty pleas to felony convictions of dealing in unlawful proceeds and possession with intent to deliver charges. His sentencing is scheduled for May 16.

The jury that considered Gomez’s charges took about 45 minutes to deliberate and return guilty verdicts on dealing in unlawful proceeds, criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.

Judge Jackie Bernard, who presided over the two day trial that started Monday, scheduled Gomez’s sentencing for July 17.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.