“I'm not no drug dealer.”

That is what a Pittsburgh man claimed in court, before being sentenced to state prison for drug distribution.

Robert L. Jones, 39, of Pittsburgh was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in a state correctional institution by President Judge Thomas Doerr.

Jones previously pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy Feb. 6.

His accomplice, William R. Reid, 55, of Cranberry Township was also sentenced Wednesday by Doerr, to 2 years in the county Intermediate Punishment Program, with the first 90 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay court costs and a $250 fine, after pleading guilty to felony criminal use of a communications facility Feb. 28.

Both were also ordered to pay $830 together in restitution to the Butler County Drug Task Force.

Jones' attorney, Corey Day, said Jones is a family man who owns a cleaning business and had “taken responsibility for his actions.”

Day asked for a mitigated sentence of house arrest or a county jail sentence, while his brother, landlord and mother all testified Wednesday, stating that Jones was a good man, polite and very respectful.

“You would never would have known what we are here for,” said Robert Eckenroad, his landlord.

Jones' brother, Darnell Montgomery, a teacher and pastor in Harrisburg, said that through the “bumps in the road in the last 10 years,” he still speaks highly of Jones.

His mother, Denise Aye, said that Jones helps her out with many things, has “a heart of gold” and “shows the children respect and shows them the right way.”

The prosecution asked for a sentence of 18 to 36 months on each count, for a total of 3 to 6 years, but Doerr said he was inclined to sentence in the standard range, because “any lesser sentence is not appropriate due to the severity and nature of the offenses.”

“These actions were disruptive and horrible to not only the community, but disruptive and horrible to your family,” Doerr said.

Jones apologized “to the court and to my family.”

“I'm not no drug dealer and I'm so disappointed for a bad decision I did make,” he said.

He requested a delay in serving his sentence so he could make arrangements for his cleaning business, but that request was denied.

The Butler County Drug Task Force filed the charges after undercover purchases of crack cocaine on four occasions over a three-week period in Cranberry Township, which began on Feb. 13, 2017.

Police said an informant set up a deal between Reid and an undercover officer at Reid's home on Sherwood Drive, according to court documents, where Reid sold an eighth of an ounce of cocaine for $180. He also revealed that Jones was his source, authorities said.

Surveillance officers nearby later spotted Jones leaving Reid's house in a car that was parked in the driveway.

The next day a similar deal was arranged, this time with Reid giving the officer a plastic bag containing suspected crack cocaine in exchange for $250.

While making the buy in the house, authorities said, the officer saw Jones seated at the kitchen table with bags of suspected drugs on it and was using a scale to sort, weigh and package the suspected narcotics.

A third deal occurred Feb. 27 at the house where Reid and Jones sold one-quarter ounce of crack for $400, police said.

The last deal occurred March 3 when the officer paid Jones another $400 for more crack, documents said.

Task force officers a short time later arrested Jones when he left the house. Investigators said he was found with the $400 in marked currency the undercover officer had given him.

Officers also seized his cell phone and a small bag of suspected marijuana.

Jones was initially charged with four counts each of felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, as well as the single felony conspiracy count.

Reid was later charged with six possession with intent charges, three counts of criminal use of a communications facility and three misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance.

The remaining charges in both cases were dismissed as part of the pleas.

Reid did not make any statements during his sentencing.