A former resident of Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to drug and firearms charges alleging he sold cocaine and crack cocaine in Butler in 2018.

Marshall Grimes, age 42, pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

Between May and December 2018, the Butler County Drug Task Force and Pennsylvania Attorney General office conducted an investigation into Grimes, a known drug dealer who was operating in Butler, according to Cindy K. Chung, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

On December 11, 2018, police responded to a 911 call regarding the apartment building where Grimes and co-conspirators distributed narcotics, Chung said. Officers detained Grimes and conducted a consensual search of the apartments used by Grimes and his associates, Chung said. Police seized about 280 grams of cocaine, 80 grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, $11,989 and a loaded firearm, Chung said.

Cercone scheduled Grimes’ sentencing for June 7 at 11:30 am. Grimes faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $5 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, Cercone remanded Grimes to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.