Federal sentencing for Richard Legree Jr., 29, of Coatesville, was slated for today but was postponed until Dec. 9.

Legree was one of 22 people arrested as part of a two-year investigation into cocaine trafficking between Philadelphia and Coatesville conducted by federal and local law enforcement, including the Coatesville police.

The charges follow a grand jury indictment from September 2006 accusing the defendant of participating in two drug deals, one on July 19, 2005, and a second on July 6, 2006.
He has agreed to plead guilty to three of the charges filed against him. Each is related to distribution and possession of crack cocaine.

The offenses carry a five-year minimum prison sentence.

In the 2005 incident, Legree sold drugs to an undercover officer. The second offense, a year later, took place within the 1,000-foot drug-free school zone surrounding St. Cecilia Catholic School at 605 E. Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, and was observed by police.

In May, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reportedly recorded a phone call between Legree and an informant allegedly discussing the sale of crack.