On Wednesday, 40-year old Ayiko L. Paulette of Cahokia, was sentenced in federal court in East Saint Louis after having previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises, being a Felon in Possession of Firearms, Distribution of Cocaine, Interstate Travel In Support of Racketeering, and Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice, according to James L. Porter, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.  Paulette was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.  In addition, Paulette was ordered to pay an $8,000 fine and an $800 special assessment.  The investigation of this case showed that he was a leader of the Waverly Crips street gang in East Saint Louis, and that he was involved in importing and selling cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin in the East Saint Louis area from 2007 until he was arrested in 2014.  The investigation showed that Paulette maintained a drug house in East Saint Louis, and that in March 2013, a shootout occurred at the house between rival gang members.  After the shootout, police recovered several firearms from the house, including multiple assault rifles.  The investigation also showed that even after he was arrested in this case, Paulette attempted to obstruct justice from his jail cell by directing others to attempt to intimidate a potential witness in the case.