ALBANY (AP) -- A 36-year-old man from upstate New York has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison following convictions for possessing cocaine for distribution and for money laundering.
According to federal prosecutors, Michael Bialek, of Utica, agreed in his guilty plea to forfeit his interest in three cars, including a 2002 Jaguar, and as well as more than $7,000 in cash while agreeing to a judgment of more than $27,000.
Authorities say in 2008 he began bringing multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine from New York City to Utica, using local drug dealers to distribute it and laundering profits through local car dealer Salvatore Viti who bought high-end cars at auction and resold them.
Viti was sentenced in September to 18 months in prison for money laundering.
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