The final of 10 defendants charged with drug crimes pleaded not guilty Thursday to allegedly buying narcotics from a confidential police informant late July as part of a reverse sting operation that included several local and regional law enforcement departments.

Paul Anderson Cerny, 40, of Austin, pleaded not guilty to a single count of second-degree drug possession. According to the criminal complaint, Cerny bought 0.5 ounces of cocaine from the informant July 25 at 6:16 p.m. in a Hardees parking lot on 12th Avenue Northwest.

Nine others were charged following eight arrests July 25 and one July 26. All but Cerny and Juan Gerardo Monroy, 41, who was charged in two criminal case files, pleaded not guilty to charges Aug. 14. Monroy pleaded not guilty Aug. 21 to first-degree drug possession and aggravated forgery for an alleged drug deal in the Hardees parking lot at 3 p.m. July 25, as well as to a drug crime stemming from a March incident.

The other defendants include:

Jon Glenn Luna, 39, of Austin, pleaded not guilty to a single count of fifth-degree controlled substance crime for allegedly buying marijuana from the informant. He was the first arrested July 25, around 12:15 p.m., near the former Steer truck stop on Oakland Avenue. He is scheduled to appear in court for pretrial Oct. 10.

John Michael Howe, 41, of Austin, is set to appear Oct. 17 after pleading not guilty to first-degree drug possession. He allegedly agreed to the take of one ounce of cocaine to excuse a debt the informant owed him. Authorities arrested him at the south Hardees parking lot at 5:30 p.m. July 25. Howe owns a self-named bail bonds and advertising company in downtown Austin.

Steven Michael Dittrich, 49, of Owatonna, pleaded not guilty to a single count of first-degree drug possession. He was arrested at 1:14 p.m. July 25 at the Kmart parking lot for allegedly purchasing two ounces of cocaine. He is scheduled to appear Oct. 10 for pretrial.

Cesar Alejandro Zuno, 24, and Rafael Gonzalez Montesinos, 23, both of Albert Lea, pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree drug possession for allegedly buying two ounces of cocaine from the informant in the Aldi’s grocery store parking lot near Target at 1:50 p.m. July 25. Pretrial was set for Oct. 10 for both men.

Matthew Michael Jenson, 23, and Philippe Eke Okorie, 21, pleaded not guilty to single counts of first-degree and fifth-degree drug possession. The two Austin residents allegedly sought a cocaine and marijuana from the informant before their arrest at the Kmart parking lot at 7:11 p.m. July 25. They also are set to appear Oct. 10.

William Alvarez, 34, of Austin, will also appear for pretrial Oct. 10, following a not guilty plea to a third-degree drug charge. He was the only arrested July 26; he allegedly tried to purchase drugs from the informant at the Apollo Superette on Oakland Avenue West around 6:18 p.m. Alvarez awaits sentencing Sept. 19 on a second set of drug charges.

Cerny is scheduled to reappear in court for pretrial Oct. 17.