SCRANTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ernest Schaeffer, 41, of Schuylkill Haven, pleaded guiltybefore U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to conspiring with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Schaeffer admitted to committing the offense between June and October 2016. Schaeffer was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2017.Judge Mannion ordered a presentence investigation to be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.Under the terms of the plea agreement, Schaeffer agreed to forfeit to the government a residence and property in Schuylkill Haven that was connected to the drug trafficking operation, and four firearms.The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and local police in Schuylkill County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the federal sentencing guidelines.The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.