Clearfield County man pleads guilty to role in drug ring

A Clearfield County man who authorities said was part of a a drug trafficking organization has pleaded guilty in federal court to drug and firearms violations.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Pittsburgh said Justin Zeruth, 35, of Woodland, Pa., entered the plea Thursday before District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.

Zeruth was arrested in connection to a ninemonth federal wiretap investigation dubbed Operation Return to Sender, a DEA-led group that targeted a 47-member drug ring that prosecutors say was led by Derek Hillebrand and dealt methamphetamine shipped from California into rural towns in Jefferson, Clearfield and Allegheny counties.

The case against Hillebrand is pending.

Zeruth pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Zeruth was a distributor who purchased at least a pound of methamphetamine from Hillebrand that he then redistributed.

On March 24, 2021, Zeruth was stopped while driving a vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and seized a firearm.

Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for Zeruth on March 8.