A 40-year-old member of a gang in New York received a 198-month federal prison sentence. The 16-year prison term is for drug and weapon charges.

The defendant described himself as the leader of a gang known as the East Bishop Family. The gang leader’s drug crimes confessed to included traveling to New York City for large quantities of drugs that he and the members of his gang sold in Albany. Prosecutors say that the street gang also sold drugs in Rochester as well as cities in Pennsylvania.

The defendant’s current legal troubles began on Oct. 18, 2017, when the U.S. Attorney’s Office says he was pulled over while driving a car with 250 grams of heroin inside. The same day, the search of a jewelry store owned by the defendant yielded 100 grams of cocaine. Investigators also found a money counter, digital scales and nearly $4,000 in cash.

More trouble came to the defendant when the contents of a car parked behind his home were searched. Investigators found a kilogram of cocaine, more digital scales and a cutting agent in the Chevy Malibu. The searches also resulted in two rifles and four handgun seizures. The defendant confessed that the weapons were part of the security measures used to defend the drug operation.

The defendant received prior convictions related to robbery and drug dealing in the past. He was on parole at the time of his arrest.

Individuals arrested for the sale of illegal narcotics face a difficult time in court for which they will need to mount a defense. It may be helpful to seek the guidance of a professional as early in the process as possible. Individuals who need to defend themselves in court against drug charges may be able to protect their rights by consulting with a criminal defense attorney.