BANGOR – A Hancock County man identified as a longtime drug dealer was sentenced Thursday to 48 months in prison after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy with the intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine.

The sentencing took place at U.S. District Court in Bangor. U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal presided.

Mark A. Westcott, who will turn 37 tomorrow, could have been sentenced to more than eight years in prison and fined $2 million for the offense. Instead, he will serve half the maximum possible sentence after the judge granted him a downward departure. No fine was assessed.

A downward departure translates into a lighter-than-usual sentence. Though downward departures can be granted for various reasons in the federal court system, judges as a rule are hesitant to grant them unless substantial proof exists that a defendant merits the legal lessening of a forthcoming prison term.

In Westcott’s case, the government recommended a downward departure because of substantial assistance in other investigations.

Listing his address in various papers as Franklin and East Orland, Westcott was identified by his supplier as a person he had supplied with marijuana and occasionally cocaine for sale since 1995.

The supplier, Richard Mazzella of Massachusetts, was arrested in September at his home. According to a court document, he was expecting the delivery of about 400 pounds of marijuana from Texas at the time of his arrest.

Mazzella began cooperating with the government in hopes of receiving a lighter sentence. Further information on his legal status could not be obtained Thursday.

According to a court document, Mazzella was prepared to testify that he provided Westcott with marijuana, from several ounces to 100 pounds per delivery, for about four years. Smaller quantities of cocaine also were delivered.

Mazzella and Westcott reportedly agreed on a price of $900 to $1,000 per pound for the marijuana and $950 per ounce for the cocaine, according to court documents. Mazzella agreed to “front” the drugs to Westcott, with full or partial payment to be made prior to the next drug delivery. The arrangement continued until the fall of 1999 with Westcott owing Mazzella money at that point.

According to a court document, Mazzella would testify that throughout 1996 and 1997 he supplied marijuana in quantities ranging from 25 pounds to 50 pounds to Westcott, and on at least one occasion, approximately 85 pounds to 100 pounds.

Though Westcott usually traveled to Massachusetts to pick up the drugs, Mazzella often came to Maine to collect payments that ranged from $25,000 to $50,000, according to court papers.

Singal recommended that Westcott be transferred to a medical facility and that he participate in a 500-hour drug treatment program there.

Jailed since last July, Westcott was remanded to the custody of federal officials. He will be transferred to prison when the U.S. Bureau of Prisons has picked a facility for him.