ERIE, PA—A former resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Reinaldo Rosario Febus, 51, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Febus conspired with two co-defendants to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five hundred grams or more of cocaine. According to information presented in court, in March 2014, investigators seized packaging material from a kilogram of cocaine in the vicinity of a location on Huron Street, Erie, Pennsylvania. On March 20, 2014, investigators seized two ounces of cocaine after it had been sold by one of Febus’ co-conspirators.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2016 at 12:45 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Marshall J. Piccinini is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The EAGLE Task Force, which is comprised of members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Febus.