A federal judge sentenced Roger Dale Ray, 36, to 130 months in prison. Ray agreed to forfeit 25 real estate properties and pay $3 million as part of his a plea agreement.

He pleaded guilty in June 2007.

In issuing the sentence, Judge Terrence Boyle found that Ray’s crime involved the laundering of between $7 and $20 million. He also found Ray served as the organizer, leader, manager or supervisor of criminal activity.

U.S. Attorney George Holding argued that Ray gained access to financial institutions through his several businesses and dozens of real estate parcels. Holding also maintained that Ray and others used the businesses to launder funds from the distribution of cocaine by others.

“Money laundering is not a victimless crime, said criminal investigator Reginael D. McDaniel with the Internal Revenue Service. He was the chief investigator in the case.

“Not only are innocent people duped by various schemes, but the underground, untaxed economy harms the entire nation’s economic strength.”

The case was investigated by the IRS, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Raleigh, the Wilson Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.

The case's success shows that "law enforcement can and will work together to identify and dismantle money laundering organizations that hide the profits of crime and corrode the stability of financial networks," the investigators said.