Erie Man Admits Distributing Crack Cocaine

ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal drug laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

James Darnell Pacely, 37, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on November 13, 2012, November 27, 2012 and December 7, 2012, Pacely distributed crack cocaine in Erie.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2016 at 12:45 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $3,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses 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 Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the Erie Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pacely.