A Davenport man was sentenced to 219 months in prison on Aug. 23 after being convicted of conspiring to distribute in excess of 2.8 kilograms of crack cocaine.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice release, Leon Darnell Pye, 33, as sentenced after having previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm as a felon.

An investigation by police and federal investigators revealed, according to the release, that Pye and others conspired to distribute the cocaine in the Davenport area. Pye obtained crack cocaine from numerous sources and distributed it, as well as storing and cooking the drugs at the Davenport residence of codefendant Robert Ferguson.

On Jan. 30, 2011, according to the release, police found Pye’s Uzi .380 cal. pistol and Tech 9 pistol at Ferguson’s residence.

Ferguson and Marzel Jones, another co-defendant, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, the release said.

The release said the case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Davenport police department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, according to the release.

– by Matt Starns