CHARLESTON — A Mingo County man who once faced the death penalty for ordering a drug informant's murder will instead spend the rest of his life in prison for the crime.

George “Porgie” Lecco of Red Jacket continued to deny any role in the 2005 slaying of Carla Collins during his Wednesday sentencing.

U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver ordered the 61-year-old to serve two consecutive life terms plus five years.

A jury in April found Lecco guilty on a dozen felony counts. He was convicted on three capital offenses: murder in relation to a drug conspiracy, witness tampering and witness retaliation by killing. The charges alleged he sold cocaine in Mingo County, and had the 33-year-old Collins killed to protect his drug dealing.

Valerie Friend was sentenced in July for the murder of Collins. Friend said she killed Collins at Lecco’s request.

A jury concluded in April that Lecco became convinced Collins posed a threat to one of his dealers, Patricia Burton. Burton recruited Friend to shoot and fatally beat Collins after a cocaine-fueled night on Mingo County roads.

Friend testified Lecco gave her the gun used to kill Collins.

A 2007 trial had ended with a recommended death penalty for Lecco. But a juror's misconduct prompted a retrial.

The retrial's jury was unable to recommend capital punishment.