CHICORA — A key player in a suspected drug operation that brought cocaine from eastern Pennsylvania and New York City to Butler County is headed for trial.

Manuel Luna-Batista, 31, of Hazelton, Luzerne County, on Tuesday waived his preliminary hearing on a felony charge of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

He waived his right to the hearing in exchange for a bail reduction that allowed him to get out of the Butler County Prison, where he had been since his arrest July 24.

State police vice officers characterize Luna-Batista as a mid-level drug trafficker who supplied a street-level dealer in the Chicora area with cocaine.

In turn, that street dealer would distribute the drug to users here.

Police believe Luna-Batista, the married father of seven children, would regularly transport ounces of cocaine at a time to Butler County.

Authorities said he is employed as a flagger for a private construction company.

The alleged cocaine network was identified during a drug investigation that began five or six months ago, according to a vice officer who requested anonymity.

Police initially nabbed the street dealer following a July 18 traffic stop on Route 268 in Fairview Township. He had 5.5 ounces of cocaine.

He soon agreed to cooperate with police, the vice officer said, and offered, in effect, to deliver to authorities his supplier, Luna-Batista.

The vice officer now describes the street dealer as a police informant who continues to cooperate with authorities. Still, the officer said, charges are pending against that suspect.

He told investigators last month that “he has been buying cocaine from Luna-Batista since February 2012,” according to court documents, “and is currently getting his cocaine from the New York area.”

He claimed that Luna-Batista would supply him with drugs on a consignment basis.

The vice officer said police subsequently monitored telephone calls and text messages between the street dealer-turned-informant and Luna-Batista.

Police last month arrested Luna-Batista after a traffic stop in Center Township.

After the defendant waived his hearing, District Judge Lewis Stoughton agreed to lower his bail to $10,000 from $25,000.

Luna-Batista’s attorney, Joseph Yeager of Luzerne County, declined comment Tuesday.

Luna-Batista’s parents also were in the courtroom.

The vice officer said the drug investigation continues and more arrests are possible.