NORWICH – “As I sit and reflect back on the past few years, I’ve come to not only understand that my actions as a drug dealer were motivated by greed, but also by the lack of empathy for the families of the addicts I served,” said Michael B. Mack at his sentencing in Chenango County Court Monday.

Mack entered a guilty plea to the class B felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance in August, and based on an agreed upon disposition accepted by the court, he was sentenced to four years in state prison with one and a half years post-release supervision.

Mack pleaded guilty to the top charge of the indictment against him.

It was confirmed in a previous story published in The Evening Sun that Mack’s street name is “Murder.”

This will be Mack’s second time in state prison and he is currently 26. He is from Utica.

First Assistant District Attorney Michael Ferrarese said, “Judge, this defendant is a second felony drug offender. He essentially spent his entire adult life in the drug trade.”

“Law enforcement’s hard work and dedication should not go unnoticed in this particular case,” said Ferrarese. “Mack has been coming to this community to sell narcotic drugs for a long time.”

“The defendant seems to indicate he would like to go south and start his life over,” said Ferrarese with regard to Mack’s plans after prison.

Ferrarese continued that anyone who comes to this community to sell drugs will be punished.

“If he [Mack] comes back,” said Ferrarese, “he will be a third felony drug offender. Hopefully the defendant learns his lesson.”

Mack’s attorney, Alyssa Congdon, did not address the court at the proceeding, but Mack opted to read a statement before the court.

“Let the record show,” said Mack, “That as I write this, it’s not to seek forgiveness, but only to show remorse. I humbly accept these four years in prison because I know that when I am released, I’ll come home as a better person, one who actually utilized the sentence as a foundation for becoming a productive citizen, who looks back on the past and is ashamed to acknowledge it as my own.”

Said Mack, “I won’t sit here and say I will become a saint who will never make mistakes. You hear that all too often. I will, however, say that my biggest regret is not of the time I’m spending in prison, but of the time away from my loved ones.”

Mack added that to him, family is the most important thing in the world.

“For the people I served and their families: I hope and pray you’ll overcome the hatred toward me and see that I’m just a man that took a left when I was supposed to turn right,” said Mack.“And I sincerely apologize for providing the poison that ran through the bloodstream of this community for so long.”

Mack added that upon his release, he would like to spend his time spreading the message against drug use “in hopes of helping to clean the streets up and rid them of an epidemic that is becoming all too familiar in this country.”

“If it’s any consolation, I truly and honestly believe that my actions as a drug dealer not only affected the user and the user’s family, but also the community as a whole, and for that I give out my most sincerest apologies as I readily admit my wrongdoings,” Mack said. “It takes a child to do wrong, but it takes an adult to admit the wrongs done.”

To the court Mack continued: “Please accept these words of remorse, as they are written not to manipulate people into thinking I’m just looking to save face, but to show that sometimes people change with time. A little patience goes a long way.”

Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. said, “I hope those words truly are heartfelt. You’ll still be a young man when you get out.” Revoir continued by telling Mack that he has a long life ahead of him.

Revoir added that either one leaves prison a better man, or does not.

“Although around this country the tide is turning with regard to marijuana,” said Revoir, “this country is not taking that route with other drugs.”

Revoir reminded Mack that if he is convicted of another felony, he will then be deemed a “persistent felon.”

Revoir said rather than four, five, six, our ten years, the sentence for another drug related felony could be up to life in prison.

“I hope it’s truly heartfelt,” said Revoir.

“It is, your Honor,” said Mack.

Mack was sentenced to four years in prison with 1.5 years post-release supervision, and executed a written waiver of appeal.