OAKLAND — A man who authorities say worked with others to distribute large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine from Sinaloa, Mexico to the Bay Area accepted a federal prison sentence Friday.

At the center of the ring are two San Leandro stores: Acapulco Liquors and Acapulco Records, which federal prosecutors say were used to launder drug money and arrange narcotics deals. Though many court records have been sealed, recently released documents show the vast scale of the investigation, which lasted for 18 months and included law enforcement activity up and down the state.

Antonio Enrique Cervantes, who had pleaded guilty to drug possession with intent to distribute, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison and five years supervised release. He was arrested in August 2016 after authorities searched his car and found 24 pounds of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment. He admitted the drugs were his, according to court records.

Eight other defendants — Aaron Perez-Cervantes, Juan Jose Plazola, Guillermo Cervantes, Sergio Reyes-Gonzalez, Elda Cervantes, Esteban Polanco, Hernan Perez-Cervantes, and Antonio Jose Cervantes — are still awaiting trial. All except Elda Cervantes were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than a pound of cocaine and meth, which carries a possible life term.

During the course of the investigation, authorities conducted a series of undercover cocaine buys between confidential informants and some of the defendants in Alameda County cities, and conducted surveillance that included tracking cars and setting up cameras on telephone poles and street lights in San Lorenzo. In one instance, Reyes-Gonzalez met with a confidential informant to purchase $2,700 worth of cocaine at the liquor store. He later paid one of the dealers their cut with money taken directly from the cash register, according to federal prosecutors.

In another instance, Hernan Perez-Cervantes told Aaron Perez-Cervantes he needed “half a corner,” then showed up at Acapulco Records and left with a “black object” that he put in the trunk. U.S. Attorneys say they believe the item was a quarter-kilogram of cocaine but do not say if they ever seized the suspected drugs.

Eventually, IRS Agents raided both stores, and found nearly $68,000 in cash, which the federal government is petitioning to seize through the asset forfeiture process. All told, more than $500,000 was seized during the operation, according to court records. Authorities say Aaron Perez Cervantes owned both stores with his wife.

A trial date for the remaining eight defendants has not been set.