A Minnesota man convicted in one of the largest-ever cocaine seizures in Kansas has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas City, Kan., said Friday that 28-year-old Nestor Ramirez of New Brighton, Minn., was sentenced to 19 years, seven months in prison. Ramirez was convicted in August of one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

In October 2007, Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Carl Bentley arrested Ramirez and co-defendant Manuel Barraza-Martinez — convicted of the same charges — on Interstate 35. More than 540 pounds of cocaine was found in an electronically operated hidden compartment in the pair’s cargo truck.

In October, Barraza-Martinez, of Richfield, Minn., was sentenced to 13 years, five months in prison.