Troy David Brown, 39, of Delmont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute before Senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond on May 13.

According to a criminal complaint filed against him, Mr. Brown was caught after a co-defendant in the case was arrested and agreed to cooperate.

On March 28, 2007, Manuel Arredondo-Ramirez was stopped for traffic violations while traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 in Ohio. When police searched his vehicle, they found 30 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the roof. Mr. Arredondo-Ramirez agreed to conduct a controlled delivery for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

He and Mr. Brown met on April 2, 2007, at 11:45 p.m. in a Monroeville parking lot. After Mr. Brown was arrested during the exchange, agents searched his business, Cut and Trim Lawn Care in Verona, where they found several suitcases containing more than $500,000.

At the conclusion of his prison term, Mr. Brown must also serve five years on supervised release.