Donora Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Offense

PITTSBURGH—A resident of Donora, Pennsylvania pled guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Keilone Preston, 27, pled guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on June 12, 2007, a confidential informant was used to make a controlled buy of two ounces of crack cocaine from Preston for $2,500. The actual amount of crack distributed by Preston weighed 49.8 grams.

Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2010, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Ivory is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

A federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force comprised of members drawn from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, officers from the Donora, Monessen, and Charleroi Police Departments, and the Fayette County District Attorney’s Office Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Preston.