State police accused an East Deer woman of dealing crack cocaine after an informant bought the drug from her during a sting operation.

Sarah Rebecca Ellis, 26, of the 900 block of Front Street, was charged with two felony counts of possessing drugs with the intent to deliver as well as counts of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

She is being detained in the Armstrong County Jail after failing to post a $5,000 cash bond, according to court records.

Ellis faces a preliminary hearing on the charges before District Judge Gary DeComo on Feb. 15.

State police from the Butler station wrote in a criminal complaint charging Ellis that an informant contacted her on Jan. 14 to arrange to buy crack cocaine.

The informant was instructed to drive to Ford Street and Fourth Avenue in Ford City, where Ellis entered the vehicle and then got out several minutes later, the complaint said.

Police said the informant was provided with marked bills to buy the drugs and was searched before and after meeting with Ellis to make sure they did not have any weapons or other cash and drugs, the complaint said.

The informant turned over an eye contact case to police that contained suspected crack cocaine, authorities said.

The substance was sent to the state police crime lab in Greensburg where it tested positive for cocaine, police said.

Court records show that Ellis was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drug possession charge filed by state police on Jan. 21, 2021.

Ellis also is awaiting sentencing for her guilty plea to a misdemeanor drug possession charge filed by state police on April 20, 2020, according to court records.

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