District Attorney Jim Farrell announced today that Raymond Copeland, 37, of Liberty, N.Y., entered a plea of guilty in Sullivan County Court to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, a class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, a class C violent felony.

Farrell said that Copeland admitted to selling cocaine to an undercover police officer in the Village of Liberty on February 23, 2013. He also admitted to the possession of an illegal and loaded 22 caliber Ruger handgun that was recovered at his home, located on Lake Street, on March 7, 2013.

Copeland was arrested after an investigation into his trafficking of cocaine by the Detective Division of the Village of Liberty Police and the execution of a “no-knock” search warrant at his home that resulted in the seizure of cocaine, marihuana, the handgun, over 100 rounds of ammunition and approximately $650.00 in United States Currency.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Copeland faces a minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 10 years when he is sentenced on February 13, 2014. Farrell said his office will seek a 10 year sentence. Copeland also faces 5 years of post release supervision and has agreed to forfeit $650.00 in United States Currency, 3 flat screen TVs, 2 laptops, and an I-pad – all of which will be put to use in law enforcement.

Farrell praised the work of the Liberty Police, “This was a pro-active investigation into the street level dealing of cocaine in the village that resulted in the recovery of illegal drugs and an illegal handgun that was employed in cocaine trafficking and the Liberty Police and the detective division are working very hard to remove drug dealers from our streets and will continue to investigate street level dealers who have an adverse impact on our community. This was yet another example of the fine work and an exceptional investigation by the detective division that had an excellent result.”