New Castle, PA – Maurice Collier, 33, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, is headed to federal prison for nearly a decade after a Lawrence County Drug Task Force investigation exposed his prolific drug trafficking operation and illegal firearm possession. Collier received a 97-month sentence from U.S. Senior District Judge David Stewart Cercone, along with three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
The feds say Collier wasn’t shy about peddling poison. Between September and November 2020, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force conducted four separate controlled buys, directly purchasing cocaine and heroin from Collier. This wasn’t a small-time operation; the investigation culminated in a November 4, 2020 raid on Collier’s New Castle residence, where authorities found a loaded, stolen pistol, a staggering $5,034 in cash allegedly earned from drug sales, and significant quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and both cocaine and cocaine base.
Adding insult to injury, Collier was already out on bond, facing a separate drug trafficking charge in Pennsylvania state court, when he continued his criminal enterprise. This blatant disregard for the law clearly didn’t sit well with Judge Cercone. It’s a pattern for Collier, who previously served over six years in a New Jersey state prison for – you guessed it – cocaine trafficking and gun crimes. A repeat offender, and a dangerous one at that.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig W. Haller led the prosecution, building a solid case based on the evidence collected by the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The collaborative effort underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in dismantling these criminal networks.
U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan framed the case as a victory for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering trust with communities and focusing enforcement efforts. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in 2021, emphasizing community partnerships and measurable results – a strategy apparently working in this case.
Collier’s sentencing sends a clear message: trafficking deadly drugs and illegally possessing firearms will not be tolerated in Western Pennsylvania. While 97 months is a significant sentence, it remains to be seen if it’s enough to deter others from following in Collier’s footsteps. The Grimy Times will continue to track this case and report on the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and gun violence in the region.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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