United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, June 17, 2008, that Eric R. Cooper, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 240 months (20 years) imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating the federal drug laws.

United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Cooper, age 39.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle, from in or around 2004 until on or about March 30, 2006, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Cooper and others conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Ms. Buchanan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Eric R. Cooper.  Other agencies that participated in the investigation and prosecution include the Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force (FBI, Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County District Attorney's Investigations Unit, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the West Mifflin Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department, the Monroeville Police Department and the Verona Police Department.