A Farrell, PA. man pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in US District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania Monday.

US District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan sentenced Michael Talbert, 43, to 120 months, or 10 years imprisonment followed by 8 years of supervised release.

According to the information provided to the court, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the US, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico in late 2019.

In December 2019 and continuing through August 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization. Talbert, as a member of this multistate drug trafficking organization, was intercepted discussing the distribution of cocaine throughout western Pennsylvania. In addition to the intercepted
communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and money from members of the organization, including Talbert.