Blaming his behavior on a 48-year drinking problem, a Clearfield County man yesterday was sentenced to time served for selling illegal explosives.

Perry Landis, 63, of Du Bois, pleaded guilty in June to selling electric blasting caps to undercover police officers.

He has been in custody at the Allegheny County Jail since his arrest in June 2008.

Federal officials claimed that Mr. Landis' rural cabin was a meeting place for militia members.

In May 2005, the FBI and state police initiated an undercover investigation of several people who expressed anti-government sentiment. It led to several militia groups operating under the umbrella organization Pennsylvania Citizens Militia.

Prosecutors have said that Mr. Landis was part of the Brookville Tigers Militia. Undercover officers who infiltrated the group bought blasting caps from Mr. Landis for $2 each in September 2007 and March 2008.

Mr. Landis' attorney, Stephen B. Jarrett, told U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry yesterday that his client was an alcoholic who drank one to two cases of beer each day.

"That is a lot of alcohol," Mr. Jarrett said. "It will make you a braggart. It will make you boast of things you can't possibly carry out."

Yesterday, Mr. Landis denied having any kind of anti-government feelings.

"I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed of myself," he said. "I'm not against the government. I love the United States."

During the sentencing, Mr. Jarrett called several of Mr. Landis' Old-Order Amish neighbors to testify. They told Judge McVerry that Mr. Landis was a good man, who did not burden society.

Judge McVerry noted that Mr. Landis faced an guideline range of 10 to 16 months in prison and ordered that he be released from jail yesterday. Mr. Landis must also serve two years on supervised release.

In all, five people have been charged in the related investigations.