A pair of Schuylkill County men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Marquese Whitted, 30, of Frackville, and Derek Mountz, 32, of North Manheim Township, were indicted last week by a federal grand jury for participating in a methamphetamine and heroin trafficking conspiracy that operated in Schuylkill and Berks counties from April through October 2016.According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Whitted and Mountz conspired with each other and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 100 grams (which is equivalent to approximately 4,000 retail bags) of heroin during that time frame.Whitted is also charged with nine counts of methamphetamine and/or heroin trafficking, while Mountz is also charged with two counts of methamphetamine trafficking and possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.The case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Shenandoah Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.Led by the United States Attorney's Office, the arrests were part of a heroin initiative that targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute people who commit heroin related offenses.