Federal prosecutors say a newly unsealed indictment is tied to an alleged drug pipeline running through the New Castle area, with cocaine and fentanyl at the center of the case. The filing, opened Friday, June 5, charges two men in a conspiracy that investigators say started in April 2025 and continued right up until a grand jury handed up the indictment. Both men had already been taken into custody by the time the charges became public and now face federal counts in Pittsburgh.
The indictment names 48-year-old Tayarry Sims and 68-year-old Marlen Cooper, accusing them of conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl in and around New Castle from April 2025 through the day the grand jury returned the charges, according to WKBN. Prosecutors say the grand jury returned the indictment on Tuesday, and it remained under seal until Friday so authorities could first arrest both defendants.
Court papers outline what prosecutors describe as lengthy criminal histories for the men, including Cooper’s past voluntary manslaughter conviction and earlier drug-related prison terms. The filing also includes specifications that federal prosecutors sometimes use when they are in a position to seek enhanced sentences. Arraignment dates for Sims and Cooper have not yet been scheduled.
Feds Have Zeroed In On New Castle Before
This is not the first time federal agents have focused on New Castle and the rest of Lawrence County in the fight against cocaine and fentanyl. Multi-agency task forces and federal prosecutors have brought a string of trafficking cases in recent years, often going after organizations accused of moving drugs across western Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh has repeatedly announced similar takedowns and indictments tied to New Castle-area operations, highlighting ongoing federal pressure on fentanyl supply lines in the region. For background on a previous investigation that officials say dismantled a New Castle-based trafficking group, see the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania.
What Happens Next In Federal Court
For now, the indictment is only an accusation, and Sims and Cooper are presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charges in court. If they are convicted, federal conspiracy counts involving cocaine and fentanyl can carry significant prison terms and steep fines, and the added specifications in this case could increase potential penalties.
The next steps are largely procedural. Pretrial scheduling and arraignment hearings will be set in the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, but no dates have been made public yet, as reported by WKBN.
