As Boston Police detectives closed in on his base of operations, a Dorchester drug dealer tossed his 9mm handgun out the window, only to have it land on a Boston Police car before bouncing onto the ground, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said in announcing the man’s conviction.

JOEL “NINETY” CLAY (D.O.B. 1/7/74) will serve up to 17 years in state prison for operating a crack cocaine enterprise from a vacant Sturbridge Street apartment, Conley said. Clay was convicted last week of trafficking in more than 200 grams of a Class B substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge John Cratsley on Friday sentenced Clay to a term of 15 to 17 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction.

“This was a case of guns and drugs,” Conley said. “It was a case of a man who put lives and safety at risk by running a drug operation and keeping a loaded, unregistered handgun to protect that operation – all inside a residential building.”

Assistant District Attorney Christine Walsh proved at trial that Clay used a vacant apartment at 43 Sturbridge St. to store more than 450 grams of crack cocaine in one bag, 14 smaller bags of crack cocaine prepared for individual sale, $1,000 in cash, a digital scale, three laptop computers, and four cell phones.

Members of the Boston Police B-2 and C-11 drug control units approached the apartment on April 18, 2008, after receiving information that Clay, a suspected high level drug dealer, would be inside. The officers also knew that local utility records listed the apartment as vacant. As they announced their presence, they heard the sound of running and breaking glass from within and entered.

Officers entered the apartment to find Clay bleeding profusely from his wrist. The officers also observed a broken window and, on the ground outside below it, a firearm and loaded magazine. The officers froze the apartment pending the issuance of a search warrant and subsequently recovered the large bag of cocaine from a safe that also contained drug packaging equipment, a BB gun, jewelry, and Clay’s bank card. Outside the safe were the smaller packages of cocaine, computers, phones, and Clay’s phone bill.

Later the same day, Boston Police executed a separate warrant on an apartment at 72 Florida St. The officers made a peaceful entry and spoke with Clay’s sister, who directed them to her bedroom. Inside that bedroom was a second safe containing a second loaded handgun, an additional 500 grams of crack cocaine, another scale, and personal papers that included Clay’s birth certificate. Also recovered were two bullet-resistant vests and two holsters.

Walsh introduced that evidence at Clay’s trial, as well; the jury acquitted Clay of possessing the drugs, the gun, and the ammunition.

Clay was represented by attorney Michael Roitman.