The U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Monroe County man pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick to a federal heroin trafficking charge.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith, Sal DiPalma, 45, of East Stroudsburg, admitted to the charge of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin. DiPalma was indicted by a grand jury in April 2015.The charges stem from an incident in which DiPalma helped to arrange for a sale of heroin between Eric Rabb, 45, of East Stroudsburg, and another individual who was working for police investigators. On Oct. 23, 2013, Rabb and DiPalma were arrested by investigators as they were about to distribute the heroin to the other person.The investigation was conducted by the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lackawanna County District Attorney's Office and the Wayne County District Attorney's Office.Eric Rabb previously pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute heroin and is awaiting sentencing.The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O'Hara.