ABINGDON, Va. — A pair of Wise County residents pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, related to what authorities describe as a major meth and fentanyl operation.

Bradley Mitchell Chester, 39, and Jaime Allison Foster, 24, both of Pound, appeared in U.S. District Court in Abingdon on Friday, where they entered their guilty pleas.

Authorities say the pair would travel to Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina to purchase drugs to resell in Wise County. Officials say they traveled to Kentucky and Tennessee multiple times a week to buy pressed fentanyl pills and would go to North Carolina once every three or four weeks, where they would buy a quarter-pound of fentanyl and at least a half-pound of meth each time.

The scheme began to unravel on two occasions, when each sold drugs to undercover informants. Then in March, they were pulled over in St. Paul, where police discovered 470 grams of meth and 117 grams of fentanyl in their car.

Chester, who court records describe as a major supplier of meth and fentanyl in Pound, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth and fentanyl, and possession of meth and fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He faces a potential life sentence.

Foster pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession of meth with the intent to distribute. She faces up to 40 years in prison.

Both are scheduled to be back in court Oct. 3 for sentencing.