Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said a “major player” in the Mass and Cass drug market was sentenced to a 9-10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to firearm and drug trafficking charges.

Keon Leary, 45, pleaded guilty, on the day his trial was set to begin on Tuesday, to carrying a firearm without a license (third offense), carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, trafficking cocaine over 200 grams, trafficking fentanyl over 36 grams, and distributing a Class B substance (subsequent offense),” the Suffolk DA’s office said.

“Keon Leary has been a major player in the Mass and Cass drug market for years, and I’m incredibly grateful for assistance from the community that led to his arrest and conviction,” Hayden said Wednesday. “This is yet another example of solid results from cooperation between police, prosecutors and community members.”

Boston Police conducted a “buy and bust” operation in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, on the morning of Aug. 12, 2022, after receiving reports of Leary often being parked in the area of Hope House, located at 8 Farnham St. buying and selling drugs, the DA’s office said.

Leary was arrested after officers observed a drug deal on the corner of Gerard Street. Upon his arrest, officers seized two backpacks containing 248.18 grams of cocaine, 22.22 grams of fentanyl, 15.57 grams of fluorofentanyl and .43 grams of valerylfentanyl.

Police also recovered a black Taurus PT22 loaded with nine rounds and $8,994 in cash, the DA’s office said.

Leary was sentenced to 9-10 years in prison, with three years of probation to follow, prosecutors said.

Hayden said Leary’s arrest came about, in part, through a tip from the community.

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