(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

45-year-old Durrell Forston of Seven Fields pled guilty to drug and firearm charges on Friday before U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman.

The guilty plea stems from a search performed by a drug K-9 following a traffic stop of Fortson on November 16, 2022. Following the detection of controlled substances by the K-9, police obtained a search warrant of the vehicle which uncovered an air mattress containing two gallon-sized bags of cocaine, two kilogram wrappers with cocaine residue, a digital scale, and a .40 caliber handgun loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition.

The maximum penalty for the drug distribution charge is a $1,000,000 fine and/or an imprisonment term of up to 20 years. Additionally the maximum penalty for the firearms possession charge is a $250,000 fine and/or a prison sentence of at least 5 years and up to life in prison.

Sentencing for Forston has been scheduled for June 11.