MONTEGO BAY, St James — A reputed high-ranking member of the dismantled Westmoreland-based Alma gang was last week sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment following his conviction in the Western Regional Gun Court.

Twenty-two-year-old Eugene ‘Nepaul’ Douglas, of Station Road in Little London, Westmoreland, was convicted on charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Douglas was arrested and charged following the recovery of six illegal firearms, including three AK-47 assault rifles, a shot gun, and two pistols in Camp Savannna Mountain in October last year.

The once feared Alma Gang was reportedly led by 29-year-old Torneal Haughton, also called Malta’, who was shot and killed during a reported shoot-out with the police in Big Bridge, Westmoreland on December 31 last year.

Haughton, who resided in the Alma community in the parish, headed the Westmoreland police’s most wanted list before his death.

He was accused of murdering two women whose bodies were dumped in a cave in 2008.

The police reported that the gang was responsible for a number of murders committed in the parish.

According to the police, two months prior to Haughton’s demise, six other members of the gang were shot and killed in security operations, and a number of illegal guns, including high-powered weapons, recovered.