SALISBURY — A Salisbury man with a decades-long criminal record was convicted of felony cocaine possession and sentenced to more than six years in prison.

William Sean Perry, 36, who is also known as Nehkent Supreme Ali, was convicted this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver cocaine.

He admitted his status as a habitual felon. Judge Eric Levinson sentenced Ali to a minimum of 77 months to a maximum of 105 months in prison.

On Feb. 3, a Salisbury police officer saw a Cadillac traveling on North Shaver Street. The driver parked in the middle of the street with the car’s headlights off. The officer talked with the driver, identified as Ali, who said he had stopped because he needed to urinate.

Ali told the officer he had done nothing wrong and that the officer could search his vehicle. The officer found a hard off-white substance that was identified as cocaine in the driver’s seat. Officers also said Ali had a plastic bag that contained cocaine.

Ali was convicted of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony attempted trafficking in cocaine, and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, among other convictions.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciates the work of Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould and the Salisbury Police Department in holding Ali accountable for his criminal conduct.

Cook said her office identified Ali as a habitual felon at an early stage, which resulted in his enhanced prison sentence.

Ali was also the subject of a months-long drug investigation in which officers with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and Salisbury Police Department purchased about 70 grams of suspected crack cocaine from him at a Bryce Avenue residence.

Officers searched the residence as well as a second residence Ali was known to share with an acquaintance on Bringle Ferry Road. During the searches, officers uncovered 18 grams of marijuana, a large amount of cash and drug paraphernalia.

Ali has been in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $620,000 secured bond since his May arrest.