ABINGDON, Va. — A Wise County man has pleaded guilty to federal charges connected to a meth trafficking conspiracy.

Russell Dewayne Peaks, 49, of Pound, was arrested in August and charged with three counts of distributing meth and one count of distributing fentanyl. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Peaks pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to distribute meth, in exchange for the remaining charges being dropped.

Authorities say they sent an undercover informant to his home on three occasions in March and April to buy nearly an ounce of meth each time. On one of the trips, the informant also bought 2 grams of fentanyl.

With the plea, Peaks now faces a sentence of between 25 years and life in prison. He also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his release from prison from earlier convictions and will serve an additional 33 months on top of his other sentence.

A district judge must still approve the plea.

Peaks is being held in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon.