2019 Fox Club shooting suspect sentenced to 20 years in unrelated federal meth trafficking case

Lexington, Ky–A Lexington man, Gaige Phillips, 31, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Tuesday by US District Court Judge Karen Caldwell after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.

Phillips is also currently facing state charges for Facilitation of Murder in relation to a shooting at the Fox Club in 2019. He’s due back in state court in January 2023 on those charges, according to court records.

According to the plea agreement, on August 18, 2021, the Lexington Police Department executed a search warrant on a storage unit rented by Phillips. Inside the storage unit was 3.9 kilograms of what lab testing confirmed was 100% pure methamphetamine, a loaded 9mm handgun, and three shopping bags of cash totaling $78,016. Also in the storage unit was 16.4 grams of what lab testing confirmed was fentanyl.

The storage unit was rented in Phillips’ name, video surveillance showed him going to the storage unit the morning that the warrant was executed and depositing items, and there was a receipt in his name in one of the bags. There was also distinctive jewelry found in the unit that Phillips was seen wearing in recent social media posts.

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Top photo: Lexington Police Department Annual Report 2021