A Pittsburgh man who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute heroin was given a reduced sentence today following his cooperation with the prosecution.

Senior U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond sentenced Rodney Thompson, 44, of the Hill District, to 10 years in prison, half the 20-year minimum sentence, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

"This was a good sentence," Mr. Thompson's attorney, Phillip DiLucente, said following the hearing.

Mr. Thompson was part of a heroin trafficking enterprise that included the Pittsburgh area, New York, New Jersey and Georgia. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the City of Pittsburgh Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office.

Assistant United States Attorney Constance M. Bowden said Mr. Thompson "has been, right off the bat, cooperative and accepted responsibility in this situation."

She said Mr. Thompson knew he would be incarcerated for his crimes and planned to undergo drug rehabilitation and job training while in prison.

"I am certain that with proper rehabilitation that this man will benefit society," she said.

Mr. Thompson apologized to the court and to his family.

"I want to move on and re-invent myself," he said.