The leader of a multi-million-dollar cocaine ring was sentenced Thursday to 5 to 10 years in state prison by Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Wherry

On Nov. 18, Vernon Scott, 39, formerly of 284 Stambaugh Ave., Sharon, and Youngstown, pleaded guilty to felony counts of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and criminal conspiracy.

Scott also received a sentence of 2 to 4 years for drug possession, to run concurrently with the conspiracy charges.

Scott has been held in Mercer County Jail since his arrest in April. After eluding authorities for almost a year, he was picked up in Youngstown during a drug sweep.

Two state grand juries found that Scott masterminded the sale of more than $4 million worth of cocaine in four northwestern Pennsylvania counties -- including Mercer -- over four years.

Scott was accused of transporting between 10 and 20 kilograms of cocaine to the area from New York. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds.

He was the last of eight suspects to be arrested in a December 2000 drug sweep in the Mahoning Valley.

The Attorney General's Office prosecuted the case. Deputy Attorney General Brad Hellein said the office was pleased with the sentence.

"It is within the sentencing guidelines for a repeat drug offender," Hellein said. He added that Scott had previous drug convictions in Pennsylvania.

Scott was also convicted of possession of cocaine in Ohio in 2001.