Sergio Andres Gonzales, a member of a drug distribution ring shut down by federal authorities in 2018, was sentenced Monday to 57 months in federal prison and three years supervised release after pleading guilty last October to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Gonzales, 30, was escorted into the courtroom by federal marshals, shackled and wearing a jumpsuit from the Western Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason, Tenn.
In addition to the prison time, U.S. District Judge Brian Miller ordered Gonzales to participate in substance abuse treatment upon his release as a condition of release. He also recommended that Gonzales participate in substance abuse treatment and vocational-educational programs while he is incarcerated.
Before sentencing, Gonzales addressed the judge, telling him that his young daughter had come to the courtroom with family members in the hope that "she can understand about bad choices."
"I accept what is going to happen today and I do hold myself accountable for what is going on in my situation," Gonzales said. "I want to be able to teach her about making the right choices and lead her to a better path."
Gonzales is the 16th person sentenced of the 18 who were named in the federal indictment. Robert Carroll Turpin, who was acknowledged as the ringleader, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison in December.
Of the two remaining defendants, Byron Davis Warrington has entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine but no sentencing date has been set; and Demetric Issac Williams is scheduled for jury trial in April.