Ace Capone sentenced to life plus 55 years

Alton "Ace Capone" Coles, the convicted drug kingpin who used his rap record company label as a front for a multi-million dollar cocaine distribution network, was sentenced this morning to life plus 55 years by US District Court Judge R. Barclay Surrick.

In imposing the sentence, Surrick said "the amount of drugs was staggering and the money involved was even more staggering... this crime was just horrendous."

Coles, his voice cracking, told the judge prior to sentencing, "I never thought it would come to this. I don't think life is deserved for selling drugs."

Coles went on to say that he was a "product of his environent," and that he was "raised by the streets."

Coles, 35, was convicted last year on a series of drug dealing, weapons and related criminal offenses. Among other things, he was found guilty of heading a continuing criminal enterprise that authorities alleged brought a ton of cocaine and a half-ton of crack to the streets of Philadelphia between 1998 and 2005.

Five co-defendants, including his alleged top associate Timothy "Tim Gotti" Baukman, also were convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

Targeted in a federal-city narcotics investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Coles and Baukman were charged with using Takedown Records, a label they founded, as a front of their drug dealing.

Authorities confiscated over $800,000 in cash and 30 weapons during a series of raids in August 2005 in which Coles, Baukman and several others were arrested.

While targets of the investigation, Coles and Baukman produced and starred in a 31-minute rap video called New Jack City, The Next Generation. In it, they portrayed drug kingpins who used violence and intimidation to take over crack distribution in Southwest Philadelphia.

Authorities alleged that at the time they were filming the video, Coles and Baukman were taking control of cocaine distribution on those same streets.