HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Monroeville man arrested as part of a heroin trafficking probe in November 2024 pleaded guilty to five felonies and four misdemeanors across two cases in exchange for 4.5 to 15 years in state prison.

Troy Marvin Cole, 34, appeared in Blair County plea court Friday morning alongside defense attorney Adam Michael Bishop, who said Cole was accepting accountability for his actions and began doing so by entering a guilty plea right after his preliminary hearing.

In his first case, Cole pleaded guilty to single felony counts of dealing in unlawful proceeds, criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver, as well as single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In the second case, Cole pleaded guilty to single felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver, along with single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Presiding Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard described Cole’s actions as “so dangerous.” When she asked Cole why he did it, Cole mentioned gambling and needing money.

“I really don’t have an excuse for it, but I am accountable for it,” Cole said. “I just want to get back to my kids.”

Bernard told Cole that his actions “forever changed” the dynamic of his family, and that of the families to whose loved ones he might have sold drugs.

In addition to the 4.5 to 15 years in a state correctional facility, Bernard ordered Cole to pay $550 in fines, $500 in restitution to the Blair County Drug Task Force and $289 to state crime labs. He received credit for time served since Nov. 25, 2024.

An investigation into heroin trafficking in the city led to the arrest of five people on Nov. 25, 2024. Altoona police and other law enforcement agencies coordinated a controlled buy of heroin from Cole in the city and, once completed, took him into custody. A search of Cole’s vehicle yielded three iPhones, one cellphone, $1,415, 11 bricks of heroin and 544 stamp bags, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police reported that Cole resided outside Blair County and made multiple trips to Altoona to distribute narcotics and collect payment.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.