Stevie D. Dean could only shake his head as U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Lancaster discussed Dean’s criminal history and what it meant to his possible sentence.

Because Dean has an extensive criminal history, he is deemed a career offender under federal sentencing guidelines, and his recommended prison term was 262 to 327 months for pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.

“I was just caught up in using drugs,” Dean, 41, of Farrell, said Friday. “I didn’t understand it would get me to prison for 20 years, giving a guy a ride like that.”

Dean set up a crack deal Aug. 28, 2007, in which Darren D. “Little D” Parchem, 21, of Farrell — who also was sentenced Friday by Lancaster — sold nearly 2 ounces to an informant at the Crazy Horse, 999 George St., Farrell. The informant paid $1,950 and Dean got $50 of that as a finder’s fee, prosecutors said.

Lancaster noted Dean has been convicted of crimes 15 times in state court, with offenses including carrying a firearm without a license, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and resisting arrest.

Dean’s attorney, James J. Brink of Pittsburgh, summed up Dean’s record as “crackhead activities” and “petty offenses” and noted he only got $50 from this sale and $30 from another for which he was convicted in state court.

Brink asked for a sentence of 110 to 137 months.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti asked for a guidelines range sentence, noting that Dean has a lengthy drug addiction, anger management problems and a gun conviction, has violated probation or parole and has fought with police and tried to escape.

Lancaster chose 262 months, giving Dean the benefit of playing a minor role in the drug sale.

The judge added that prior incarcerations have done little to dissuade Dean from a life of crime, and the public needs to be protected from future crimes by Dean.

“He should have known better,” Lancaster said.

Lancaster recommended that Dean be enrolled in the federal Bureau of Prison’s intensive 500-hour drug-treatment program and be placed as near as possible to South Bend, Ind., where he was born and his mother lives.

Dean will serve 5 years’ supervised release when he gets out.

Dean’s sentencing hearing was attended by a group of Bosnian judges and prosecutors who are observing the American court system. A judge marveled at the length of time the federal courts give for drug crimes, and noted that some convicted of possessing more than 20 kilograms of heroin in their country would get a prison term of maybe 5 years.

Parchem benefited from having no previous convictions, although he is wanted in his native Detroit on warrants for petty offenses.