A fifth defendant charged in connection with a Grand Valley meth ring has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Kimberly Ann Oakes, 44, Titusville, entered the plea before US District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter in Erie on Wednesday.

The case started with a local Warren County Drug Task Force investigation at “The Farm,” which refers to the Grand Valley location at 530 Hunter School Road.

Federal officials unsealed an indictment in September 2020 that alleged that two defendants would drive to Akron, Ohio, two to three times per week to pick up half a pound of methamphetamine.

Local law enforcement sources said those defendants charged would return through Erie and then to Titusville — “they all called Titusville T-Vegas.” The meth then “spiderwebbed” through the area to the end user.

A total of 16 individuals were charged in connection with the operation.

Oakes, out on bond, pleaded guilty to what’s described as a “lesser included offense of conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams” of methamphetamine, according to a letter that outlines the terms of the plea.

That document states that federal prosecutors agreed to seek a downward adjustment in sentence “for acceptance of responsibility” and states that the prison term will be “not less than five but not more than 40 years.”

A hearing notice states that sentencing is scheduled for June 29.