BILLINGS — When Nathaniel Davis III was a student at Senior High School, he visited federal court with classmates to watch as the judge sentenced a drug offender.

On Friday, Davis was the drug dealer in jail garb and handcuffs being sentenced before a courtroom packed with high school students, this time from West High.

“I never thought it’d be me getting sent to federal prison,” Davis told the students. “Drugs and alcohol are never the solution to your problems. Drugs have ruined my life. I’m 23 years old.”

Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull sentenced Davis to 20 years in prison — 15 years for conspiracy and a mandatory consecutive five years for carrying a firearm while drug trafficking. There is no parole in the federal system; inmates who get credit for good behavior serve about 85 percent of their sentences.

Although Davis was a major drug dealer in a conspiracy that brought pounds of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and Ecstasy to the Billings community, Cebull gave him a break, noting that he had no criminal record and seemed sincere in his efforts to deter others from drugs.

“You’re salvageable,” the judge said.

For sentencing purposes, Davis was held responsible for between 11 and 33 pounds of methamphetamine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Seykora said the quantity represented a portion of the drugs Davis helped bring to Billings and, if anything, the guideline range was underestimated.

When it was Davis’ turn to speak, he took a microphone, faced the students and delivered a riveting statement about his mistakes.

“I do deeply regret all the harm I have caused the community. I’m ashamed of my actions,” he said.

Davis said he didn’t take it seriously what he saw in court as a student. He turned to drugs, he said, because he was depressed by the death of his father. He got deeper into the drug world as a way to pay for his habit.

Davis urged the students “to turn to someone you trust” or a counselor if they’re facing problems.

“Choose good friends that are going to look out for your best interests,” he said.

Recognizing his family members in the courtroom, Davis said he was raised in a loving home.

“I just chose to make horrible decisions,” he said. “I regret all the things I’ve done.”

Davis went to California and tried to quit selling drugs when he learned he would become a father.

“Little did I know, it was too late,” he said. Davis and five others were indicted a few months later. “I have to watch my son grow up from jail.”

Davis concluded by urging the students to make wise decisions and encouraging those who were 18 to vote.

“Go, Broncs! If you guys are from Senior High,” he said, drawing a laugh from the West High crowd. The 70 students came from classes in all grades of the high school.

Davis pleaded guilty in June moments before he was to go to trial with co-defendant Fritz Anderson, 29, of Billings. The jury convicted Anderson on all 30 counts in an indictment for trafficking of meth, cocaine, Ecstasy and marijuana from 2004 until 2007. Anderson is awaiting sentencing. Cebull dismissed the 28 remaining counts against Davis.

Davis was a leader in the conspiracy and was known by the nickname Vegas, Seykora said. He enjoyed the profits of drug trafficking by attending professional boxing matches, Major League Baseball games, NFL games in Seattle and the NBA all-star game. He had “a myriad of girlfriends” and beat and threatened two of them, he said.

One witness reported that Davis had shoeboxes full of cash, Seykora said. Davis stored the money at his mother’s house and one of his girlfriends reported seeing Davis with $80,000 in cash.

Davis and Anderson partied at local motels or homes and provided drugs to people they were recruiting. Davis used these recruits to transport drug money to California and to bring back drugs to Montana, Seykora said.

Davis refused to cooperate with law enforcement.

“He could have assisted law enforcement in ferreting out his source of supply in California, but he has refused to do so,” Seykora said.