United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, April 3, 2008, that Keith R. Phillips, a resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal drug laws.

Phillips, age 38, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.

In connection with the guilty plea, Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle advised the court that from in or around 2004 until on or about March 30, 2006, in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Phillips and others conspired to distribute more than 400 but less than 500 grams of cocaine.

Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for July 31, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.  The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 30 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Keith R. Phillips.  Other agencies participating in the investigation 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.