BLOOMINGTON - A Texas man convicted of trafficking large amounts of marijuana into McLean County was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison. Jose Lozano, 27, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Lozano said during his sentencing that financial troubles lead him to the drug trade.

"Life got turned upside down in an instant by making a bad choice. The world was closing on me," said Lozano, who worked at a Texas grocery store before his arrest as part of what police called Operation Tumbleweed.

Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Horve argued that Lozano was involved in drug deals to ship more than 25 pounds of Mexican marijuana to Illinois. He asked for a 24-year prison sentence.

Two other men, also from Brownsville, Texas, were charged with conspiracy to commit marijuana trafficking. Sergio Ramos is due in court Nov. 21 and Jose Reyes is serving 10 years for his role in the conspiracy to bring the drugs to Illinois.

Four McLean County men were charged in June for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver the drug in connection with the marijuana case.

Judge Charles Reynard did not buy into Lozano's argument that the drug sales were a one-time mistake.

The judge noted that Lozano negotiated the price and terms of the marijuana deals and offered to provide cocaine for Illinois customers, according to police.

Defense lawyer Mark Johnson said Lozano would have faced a lower sentence if the drug offenses had been filed in Texas or in federal court. Under Illinois law, Lozano was eligible for six to 30 in prison.