PA man to serve over eight years in prison for drug trafficking, firearm crimes

( WJET/WFXP ) – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for drug trafficking and firearm crimes.

United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on Tuesday, April 30, that New Castle resident Maurice Collier, 33, was sentenced to 97 months in prison by United States Senior District Judge David Stewart Cercone.

According to court information, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force made four controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin directly from Collier between September and November 2020.

On Nov. 4, 2020, the Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Collier’s residence and found a stolen and loaded pistol, $5,034, and quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. Collier was on bond with a pending drug trafficking charge in Pennsylvania state court at the time he committed these crimes.

Prior to 2020, Collier was convicted in a New Jersey court for cocaine trafficking and gun crimes and was sentenced to serve over six years in prison.

United States Attorney Olshan thanked the following departments for their contribution to the investigation that led to Collier’s prosecution: Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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