Glenn Samuels, 33, of New Castle, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 37 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Samuels and 18 other defendants from Puerto Rico, Lawrence County and Youngstown, Ohio, were indicted in March 2024 for violating federal narcotics, firearms and racketeering laws by conspiring to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown.

According to the indictment, the defendants were members of an organized drug trafficking group that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to coconspirators responsible for selling the cocaine in Western Pennsylvania, Youngstown and elsewhere. The shipments were made through the mail.

Upon receipt of the shipped cocaine, leaders of the organization would distribute smaller quantities to multiple coconspirators, including Samuels, to maximize profits. Those coconspirators then distributed the cocaine in New Castle, Ellwood City and elsewhere in Lawrence County. At least 100 grams of cocaine was attributable to Samuels, who was found during the investigation to frequent the New Castle residence of the drug trafficking organization’s local leader for short durations, often multiple times a day, according to Acting United States attorney Troy Rivetti.