A Baltimore man who evaded conviction despite multiple arrests in gun crimes was sentenced in federal court yesterday to more than 12 years in prison on drug charges.

U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis sentenced Tyrone Henderson, 24, of Baltimore to 145 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to cocaine possession with the intent to sell the drug.

According to his plea agreement, Baltimore police officers recovered a .22-caliber semiautomatic pistol from Henderson's pants pocket Jan. 17 last year. In the bedroom where Henderson was arrested, authorities said they also found 10 bags filled with cocaine and packaged for street sale.

Before his federal case, Henderson had eight gun arrests in the state system but no gun convictions