Erie Man Admits Transporting Cocaine from Detroit to Erie

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

Ronald Wesley Thomas, 62, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Thomas transported a kilogram of cocaine from Detroit, Michigan to Erie, Pennsylvania in June 2008.

Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for March 5, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of forty 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.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Thomas on bond.

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 State Police, and the Erie Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Thomas.