WEST PALM BEACH, FL — A man who authorities say led one of South Florida’s most violent gangs was sentenced to 65 years in prison on racketeering charges Friday.

A Palm Beach County judge sentenced Futo Charles, 30, shortly after a jury convicted him of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and two other drug charges. The conviction in the heavily guarded courthouse came days after a witness who planned to testify was gunned down in a parking lot.

Charles’ ‘Top 6’ gang was linked to 14 homicides and more than 150 shootings in the past few years, including a fatal Christmas Eve shooting at a busy mall in 2006 — all part of a bloody gang war, authorities said. Estimates eventually put the gang’s membership at more than 400.

Charles’ racketeering charge included multiple counts, including two shootings. His attorney, Marianne Rantala, pointed out that jurors found prosecutors had not linked Charles to the shootings, yet the judge still gave Charles the maximum sentence.

Charles has never hid his affiliation with Top 6, but he has always maintained it is a rap group.