A former Clay County constable convicted in a federal drug case has been sentenced to serve 19 years and seven months in prison.

The sentence for Jackie "The Tireman" Roberts was enhanced because he had several previous convictions, including for robbery, burglary and assault, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey.

Those convictions qualified Roberts as a career criminal under federal law.

Roberts operated a used-tire store in Manchester and used his nickname in political campaigns.

He was convicted last year of selling pain pills, being a felon in possession of a gun and possessing a gun while he was an illegal drug user.

Roberts sold pain pills to an undercover informant at his store last summer, when he was a constable. In a search the next day, police found a gun where he had stayed.

Roberts' wife, Jennifer, pleaded guilty in the case and is to be sentenced in May.