Zion Elam-Sturgis

A Philadelphia man was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to federal drug and firearms charges that were filed following his June 2020 arrest in Butler County.

Zion Elam-Sturgis, 24, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh after he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver 28 grams of cocaine base.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, but that charge was dismissed at his sentencing hearing.

Elam-Sturgis and another Philadelphia man were arrested at Comfort Inn & Suites on Route 8 in Butler Township following a controlled drug purchase at the motel.

Police executed a search warrant based on the controlled buy, and recovered about 75 grams of crack cocaine, $1,642, empty capsules and other suspected drug-packaging materials, a false-bottom container, four digital scales and 9 mm pistol that was later determined to be stolen.

Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti commended the state police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Butler County Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the prosecution of Elam-Sturgis.

Nymeer G. Scott, 20, who was arrested with Elam-Sturgis, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and is scheduled to be sentenced June 23.