Gang Leader Gets Over 12 Years In Prison On Heroin Charges

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A man accused by federal authorities of being the Michigan leader of a Chicago-based gang has been sentenced to 12 years, seven months in prison after being convicted of heroin distribution and conspiracy.

The Grand Rapids Press reports assistant U.S. attorneys in court documents described Kenton Taylor as the highest-ranking member of the Black P Stone Nation gang in Michigan. They say the gang used religion to "gloss over" its actual mission of trafficking in drugs and guns.

Taylor and three others were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and heroin trafficking. The others took plea deals. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Janet Neff on Wednesday also ordered Taylor to serve eight years on supervised release after being released from prison.