Phoukham Chanthavong apologized for his crime and told U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell that he will use his time behind bars to further his education. The 23-year-old has no possibility of parole, only a chance to shave a few weeks a year off the term for good behavior.

In a plea deal, Chanthavong admitted to being an accessory after the fact with other gang members in a conspiracy to murder Sang B. Nguyen.

The 15-year-old was shot to death outside a West Valley City apartment building in 2004 because he had helped beat up a member of the Tiny Oriental Posse earlier that day, according to prosecutors. Chanthavong said he helped destroy evidence immediately after the slaying.

Fifteen alleged members or associates of the Tiny Oriental Posse, which operated in Salt Lake County, were indicted on rack- eteering-related charges in 2006. The indictment accused the gang of conducting a decade-long reign of terror that included a murder, carjackings, home invasion robberies and the attempted killings of rival gang members.

All 15 defendants have entered guilty pleas. Others who have been sentenced so far are Daniel Chhoun, 25, to 63 months; his brother, Bryan Chhoun, 23, to 57 months; Vongmany Mathipannha, 29, to 27 months; and Rithy Chhak, 27, to 18 months. Mathipannha's sentence will run consecutively to a 30-month term he began serving two years ago on a weapons conviction.

- Pamela Manson