ALBANY, N.Y. -- A Canadian man convicted of killing a police drug informant 15 years ago was sentenced to life in prison in Albany on Monday.

Richard Vallee, 50, a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, was found guilty in September of murdering the witness, who was set to testify against him in a federal case involving the export of cocaine from the U.S. to Canada.

Lee Carter's Porsche exploded on July 28, 1993, outside a bowling alley in Rouses Point in Clinton County where he worked as a bartender.

Canadian police arrested Vallee, but he escaped from a Montreal hospital in 1997. He was on the run until 2003.

In federal court in Albany Monday, Vallee was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for two counts of murder.

U.S. Attorney Glenn Suddaby said, "The fact that Mr. Vallee was given a life sentence we hope sends a strong message to groups like Hells Angels who are trying to use the Canadian border for their criminal activity. US and law enforcement are together. We work hard together, and we will do what it takes to make sure these people are brought to justice."

Vallee will remain in a federal facility within the United States.

His lawyer, Terence Kindlon, said he plans to appeal.