The leader of a major Northland Methamphetamine distribution ring has been sentenced in Federal court.

28- year- old Erik Lee Rekonen of Virginia was sentenced to 24 years in prison, and five- years of supervised probation.

Rekonen pleaded guilty to one cout of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in January, 2007.

He was then indicted on April 11, 2007.

More than a dozen other people have pleaded guilty to various charges related to the involvement within the drug ring.

These arrests and sentences were a result of a joint effort by the Duluth and Superior Police Departments, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force, the St. Louis and Carlton County Sheriff's offices, the Minnesota State Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Wilton.

John Francis Hasty, 33, of Mountain Iron was sentenced on December 12 to 10 years in prison and five years supervised release.

28- year-old Travis John Hanson of Minneapolis, was sentenced in August to five years in prison and five years supervised release.

25-year-old Nicholas Michael Mancini of Duluth was sentenced in August to 10 years in prison and five years supervised release.

23-year-old Corey Lee Nelson-Hughes of Duluth, was sentenced in September to 16 years in prison and five years supervised release.

42-year-old Darren Charles Roivanen of Hibbing was sentenced in September to 12 years in prison and five years supervised release.

27-year-old Lizabeth Ann Skarja of Ely, was sentenced in September to 12 and a half years in prison and five years supervised release.

27-year-old Derek Joseph Carlson awaits sentencing. As does 30-year-old Clayton John Celley of Virginia.

27-year-old Jesse Lee Jensrud of Hibbing was sentenced to 16 years in prison and five years supervised release.