Vikings associate sentenced to 18 months for trafficking cocaine

Vincent Leonard Jr. was led from the courtroomand into custody on Friday, sentenced to serve the next 18 months behind bars.

Leonard is the first person tiedtothe Vikings Motorcycle Club to be sentenced in provincial court after a string of police raids around downtown St. John's almost exactly oneyear ago.

He faced fourcounts of possessing and trafficking cocaine, as well as a charge of participating in a criminal organization.

As part of a plea deal, he will only be convicted on trafficking charges.

Leonard will also serve one year of probation and face a 10-year ban on possessing weapons.

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Police said Leonard was not a full-fledge member of the Vikings, but was associated with the group'sdrug dealings.

The 41-year-old wasnot the only Leonard caught up in the raids. His father, Vincent Leonard Sr., is also facing charges of trafficking cocaine.

Leonard's cousin Daniel Leonard, 35, is facing charges of first-degreemurder in the 2014 killingof Dale Porter in North River.

One of the September raids took place at Daniel Leonard's downtown home on Cabot Street.

Leonard Sr. and fellow VikingWayne Johnsonwill appear in court for election and plea on Oct. 18.