A Madison man was sentenced Wednesday to 12½ years in federal prison for possessing crack cocaine with intent to sell it.

James J. Brown Sr., 27, pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 6. Brown was charged after police in March saw what they believed to be a drug transaction involving Brown. He fled from police when they started to follow him and threw a bag containing 18 grams of crack cocaine to the ground.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Brown, citing a prior criminal history that includes several drug-related convictions.