PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Providence man convicted for shooting and killing another man during a botched drug deal will spend the rest of his life behind bars, according to R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Johnny Xaykosy, 33, was found guilty of second-degree murder last week in the 2021 shooting death of 31-year-old Nickolas DiPanni.

Xaykosy killed DiPanni shortly after the two met up for a late-night drug deal, according to prosecutors. He reportedly shot DiPanni in the chest from his car before driving off.

Xaykosy was sentenced to two life sentences, a consecutive five-year sentence and a consecutive 10-year suspended sentence with 10 years of probation.

“Nickolas DiPanni was only 31 when he was taken from his family and loved ones,” Neronha said. “While [this] sentencing will not bring Nickolas back or take away his family’s suffering, I hope the consecutive life sentences that [Xaykosy] will deservedly serve will bring some amount of relief.”

John MacDonald, Xaykosy’s attorney, described the sentence as “absolutely excessive in light of all of the circumstances of this case.”

“This sentence did not take into account the actions of [DiPanni], who started the altercation and forced its unfortunate end,” MacDonald said. “Justice was not done.”