Ryan J. Reilly January 4, 2011, 9:05 AM

Miami gun runner Efraim Diveroli was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for trying to ship millions of rounds of Chinese-made ammunition to forces in Afghanistan fighting alongside U.S. troops, the Associated Press reported.

Diveroli said the “good times” he enjoyed due to the sudden wealth brought on by the $300 million contract wasn’t worth it. “No way it could ever be worth the suffering I have endured and my family has endured because of my actions,” he said.

“To participate in such a fraud when people are putting their lives on the line, that makes it so much sadder. For money,” U.S. District Judge Joan said in sentencing Diveroli. “Mr. Diveroli may have been clever, but not wise.”

The sentencing takes care of Diveroli’s guilty plea to allegations that he repackaged Chinese ammunition to make it appear to originate from Albania.

But thanks to allegations that he handled a weapon as he was out on bail and awaiting sentencing, the 25-year-old could be in jail well into his thirties.

“Once a gun runner, always a gun runner,” Diveroli told an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) before he was arrested and charged with possession of firearms as a convicted felon and with possession of firearms while under indictment for a felony offense back in August. So far, there haven’t been any indications that those in Diveroli’s business network will be charged for their role in helping the gun runner set up what an ATF agent told the court he believes is a “front company.”

Sentencing in the gun possession case is scheduled for Jan. 25, where Diveroli could get up to an additional 10 years in prison.

AEY, Inc., Efraim Diveroli, Young Gun Runner