An Erie man who prosecutors said led a drug trafficking ring will spend 21 years in prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday.

A federal judge handed down the sentence for John Bisbee, 44, which also includes five years of supervised release. He will also forfeit more than $305,000 in cash and jewelry that was seized during the investigation.

In June, he pleaded guilty to four counts which include violating federal narcotics, firearms, and money laundering laws.

Bisbee conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine from July 2019 to June 2020, according to information presented to the court.

Investigators said he led and directed the drug trafficking ring's activity in Erie and surrounding areas including New York. He was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining kilogram quantities of methamphetamine which he distributed to others.

Bisbee imported dozens of kilograms of methamphetamine at a time from Atlanta, packaged it for final distribution and provided it to a network of distributors below him to distribute and collect proceeds from the drugs, according to the court.

Law enforcement seized two handguns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition during a search of Bisbee's residence in June 2020, investigators said. Bisbee is prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions for drug trafficking. He also pleaded guilty to possessing these firearms to further a federal drug trafficking crime, according to prosecutors.

Bisbee also admitted to conspiring with others to commit money laundering by using drug proceeds to purchase real estate with cash from July 2019 to June 2020, according to investigators.