A Jim Thorpe man was sentenced on Monday in Carbon County court to a jail term for drug dealing, but because of the steps he took to address a drug addiction problem, he won't be spending any more time in prison.

Judge Steven R. Serfass sentenced Matteo Puddu, 29, to serve one day less 12 to one day less 24 months in the county prison. The prison term will be followed by two years of probation. He previously pleaded guilty in two cases to one count each of criminal conspiracy - possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance - heroin.Puddu was arrested on the possession with intent charge as the result of an ongoing investigation by the state Attorney General office and the county drug task force. The investigation followed the time frame of December 2014 to March 2015. Police allege Puddu participated in the sale of narcotics in various locations in the county.The second arrest was made by the vice unit of the state police at the Hazleton barracks. Puddu was involved in a controlled buy made by a confidential informant working for troopers. The sale was made at the Gypsy Hill Garden apartments in Lehighton on Feb. 9, 2015. He was involved in the sale of 10 to 30 packets of heroin to the CI.Puddu was one of 11 people arrested for taking part in a drug trafficking operation allegedly responsible for distributing $1.5 million worth of heroin in Carbon County over a four-month period.Arrested with Puddu at the time were Curtis Margle, Jason R. Will, David Allen Anthony Jr. and Brittany Michele Vincent, all of Carbon County; Joshua Ynoe Mejia, Bradesky Santos Jr., Anthony Jordan Vega and Erik Feliz, all of Luzerne County; Cynthia Ann Hippenstiel of Columbia County; and Robert Alan Fox of Bucks County.Vincent was also sentenced Monday for her part in the operation.Defense attorney Cynthia Stanziola Yurchak told Serfass since his arrest Puddu has addressed his drug addiction problem and has turned his life around.She told the court he spent time in two inpatient rehabilitation programs, including one run by the Salvation Army.Puddu read a prepared statement concerning his arrest and what it meant in his life and to his family and the steps he has taken to address the addiction problem."I accept the consequences for my actions," he told the court. He also said the programs he has gone through has helped him regain his life, which he wants to make better.Serfass said, "It seems to the court you have addressed your addiction." Serfass said Puddu spent more than 200 days in inpatient treatment, in addition to time spent in jail.Serfass gave Puddu total credit for the treatment and jail time of 389 days and paroled him. Puddu was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 monthly supervision fee while on parole and probation and render a total of 300 hours of community service.Gets probationBrittany Michelle Vincent, 22, of Saylorsburg was also sentenced Monday for her part in the operation. She previously pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance - heroin.Serfass placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a comprehensive drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, render 50 hours of community service, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.She told the court she has received help for an addiction problem and is continuing counseling on a weekly basis.