A New Castle man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison on drug trafficking and firearm charges.

According to a press release, 33-year-old Maurice Collier was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilt to distributing cocaine and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cocaine base, as well as a firearm in furtherance of the crime.

Between September and November of 2020, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force made four controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin directly from Collier.

The task force conducted a search warrant on Collier's home in November of 2020 where they found a stolen loaded pistol, $5,034 in drug trafficking proceeds and drugs including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Prior to this offense, Collier had been convicted of committing cocaine trafficking and gun crimes in New Jersey.