The fourth Austin man arrested in connection with crack cocaine sales to a confidential informant working with local and regional law enforcement pleaded guilty to drug crimes in Mower County District Court.

Jason Scott Corporal, 38, now of Brooklyn Center, pleaded guilty to a single count of felony drug possession Monday. According to court records, he may receive up to five years probation for the offense, which was amended from two third-degree drug charges as part of a plea agreement.

According to the criminal complaint, Corporal was arrested Oct. 17 with Phillip Pierre Davis, 27, after authorities allegedly found the two with “buy money” used by an informant to purchase crack cocaine.

The complaint said the informant was working with Darrell Anthony Leaks, 52, also charged. The two went to Sterling Hotel after Leaks arranged a drug deal there; police said they saw Leaks enter and leave one room, after which he gave the informant 2.18 grams of crack cocaine.

Police continued surveillance at the hotel, watching one man leave on a scooter and Corporal and Davis later in a Cadillac, the complaint states. They followed the two to Apollo Superette on Oakland Avenue West, where they arrested the men after finding $20 of “buy money” on Corporal and $130 of “buy money” on Davis.

The complaint said both men told police that they received the money from girlfriends; Corporal later said Davis gave him the cash.

A search warrant at that hotel allegedly yielded a small amount of marijuana, several corner baggies and a plastic bag that may have been used to hold the drugs purchased by the informant.

Court records show that Davis was convicted of a single count of third-degree drug sale and sentenced to five years probation.

Leaks pleaded guilty July 16 to one count of third-degree controlled substance crime as part of a plea agreement. Four drug charges were dismissed. He awaits sentencing Oct. 9.

A fourth man — Erick Fontain Thomas — was convicted of first- and second-degree drug crimes following a July jury trial. His sentence included 189 months in prison.

Corporal is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 1, 2009.