Federal prosecutors say a member of a violent Memphis-based drug ring with ties to a Mexican cartel has been sentenced to 36 1/2 years in prison.

Vacha Vaughn was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in December 2007 to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Vaughn was a member of a multistate drug ring led by Craig Petties. The organization used semi-trucks to ship cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the United States, using Memphis as a distribution center.

Prosecutors said the ring killed members suspected of being informants. Petties fled to Mexico after his indictment and was arrested there.

Petties has pleaded guilty in the case and awaits sentencing. About 30 other people have pleaded guilty or have been convicted of being members of the organization.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.