NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A New Castle man has been sentenced in federal court to 105 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release on his conviction related to a drug conspiracy.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nathaniel McKnight was sentenced on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams of fentanyl.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the country in various states including Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as Puerto Rico.

From December of 2019 to August of 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into this organization.

McKnight was intercepted communicating to orchestrate the movement of cocaine from Columbus to the Western District of Pennsylvania for distribution.

In addition, he was intercepted communicating about acquiring and distributing fentanyl, as well as cutting fentanyl to increase profits.

Agents seized cocaine, heroin fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms and bulk U.S. currency from members of the organization.