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CHARLOTTE -- Two former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were sentenced to nine years in prison Wednesday afternoon in federal court.

Gerald Holas and Jason Ross both pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to sell cocaine and protecting drug dealer David Lockhart. Lockhart has since pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy but has not yet been sentenced.

A federal judge says after Ross and Holas complete their sentences, both will have five years supervised release. Both former officers were given the right to appeal. Their sentences were one year less than the sentence recommended by prosecutors.

Family and friends of both men filled several rows in the federal courthouse for their sentencing hearings.

"I mean Jerry is like a brother to me. I've known Jerry since we were in the eighth grade, so I'm going to miss him," Wallace McCants said. "He's a godfather to my kids, that's why I'm here today, to put everything aside to be with him, because he's good enough for me."