Former Department of Planning and Natural Resources Chief Environmental Enforcement Officer Roberto Tapia was sentenced in District Court on Thursday to 70 months in prison for drug trafficking. Former Police Sgt. Angelo Hill, a codefendent in the case, was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Tapia was initially arrested last May and charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm while drug trafficking. In September 2013, he was charged in a 34-count second superseding indictment, naming six other defendants, including Hill, Raymond Brown, Hector Alcenio, Edwin Monsanto, Stephen Torres and Eddie Lopez-Lopez.

According to the criminal complaint filed in District Court, federal agents observed Tapia using a DPNR boat to make the cocaine pickup. When he was arrested, Tapia was armed, wearing clothing bearing official DPNR insignia, and in possession of a bag containing about seven kilograms of cocaine.

Tapia pleaded guilty in September 2013, admitting to extensive cocaine trafficking activities over a substantial period of time and to using his position with DPNR and the government agency’s assets to carry out the racketeering. At the time, District Court officials said Tapia could face a maximum penalty of life in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

During his sentencing hearing, Tapia asked Judge Curtis Gomez for leniency and said that his recent involvement in drug trafficking wasn’t "the whole story of his life." Tapia said he was taking full responsibility for his actions but also said he had never before had any encounters with the law and said he has helped the community while on the job at DPNR.

Tapia’s defense attorney, Gabrial Villegas, added that Tapia has continued to cooperate with the government throughout the case and could present several "letters of support" from the community.

The judge, however, wasn’t fazed and said that Tapia’s "conduct predates his charges." Gomez added that he was "troubled" that Tapia chose to continue to engage in illegal activities while on the job and sentenced Tapia to 70 months in prison, along with three years of supervised release and other stipulations. All fines were waived except a $100 assessment fee.

Tapia will also be allowed to serve out his time in Pensacola, Fla., so he can see his children.

Government attorneys presented no argument or challenge Thursday.

After the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe said in a statement that it is "always a sad day when a high-ranking law enforcement officer has to be sentenced for violating the public’s trust."

“The egregious criminal conduct perpetrated by this individual, who chose to abuse his position for selfish gain at the expense of the safety and welfare of the community, taints every hard-working law enforcement officer. My office will continue to vigorously fight public corruption and target individuals who undermine the public trust," Sharp added.

Hill, Tapia’s co-defendant, was also sentenced Thursday. Hill will serve 21 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Hill was arrested in May 2013 and was also charged iwth possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking but pleaded guilty to the first count in December 2013.

The case was investigated by the Public Corruption Task Force, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the V.I. Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Coast Guard; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ and Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General.