The leader of a major drug ring that operated in the Wilkes-Barre area tiffany jewelry was sentenced Monday to 12 years in federal prison.

The sentence imposed against Gregory Woods comes more than four years after he and 30 other people, including Woods’ son and wife, were charged in connection with the “Operation Main Street” drug bust.

Woods, 48, formerly of Academy Street, Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty in January to a single count of intent to silver bracelets distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. He later sought to withdraw the plea, arguing his defense counsel had not properly represented him. U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo denied the motion in October.

Federal prosecutors allege Woods was the leader of a drug ring that sold up to $200,000 worth of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana per week in Luzerne County. Agents with a drug task force broke up the ring in October 2005.

At his sentencing Monday, Woods disputed that he was the leader of the ring. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert O’Hara said investigators had audiotapes of phone conversations in which Woods discussed pricing with others involved in the ring. That proves he held a supervisory role, O’Hara said.

The sentence was part of a negotiated plea in which prosecutors agreed to drop numerous silver bangles other charges. Caputo was not obligated to accept the plea, however.

Woods’ attorney, Carl Poveromo, asked Caputo to consider Woods’ troubled upbringing in considering whether to accept the plea and negotiated sentence.

Poveromo said Woods was one of 11 children. Both his parents were dead by the time he was age 7 and he was raised primarily by his sisters.

“He’s the product of very tragic circumstances,” Poveromo said. “He developed a drug problem at an early age and was drug dependent his entire life.”

Caputo acknowledged Woods had a troubled life and that it likely played a role in his criminal conduct silver rings. The judge said he felt the 12-year sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the case and Woods’ background, which included three prior drug convictions.

The majority of defendants in the case were prosecuted by state authorities. Woods, his wife, Carmen Tinson, and their son, Bashir Woods, were among five defendants whose cases were taken over by federal authorities.

Bashir Woods was sentenced in August to six years and eight months in federal prison. Two other co-defendants who were charged federally, David Savage and Dominic Wilkins, also pleaded guilty. Savage was sentenced in August to eight years and four months in prison; Wilkins was sentenced in June to 11 years and eight months.

Tinson was scheduled to go on trial today, but her attorney sought a continuance,silver cufflinks saying she is negotiating with prosecutors and might enter a guilty plea.

Terrie Morgan-Besecker, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7179.