FAIRBANKS — A North Pole man who told police he traded methamphetamine for a shotgun and other people’s mail is serving a five-year prison sentence.

Anthony J. Cesani, 30, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of second-degree forgery as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. In exchange, prosecutors dropped numerous other felony charges of theft and fraud.

The sentence does not include any suspended time or probation. Superior Court Judge Michael MacDonald, who approved the agreement, ordered Cesani to pay restitution to all of his victims.

“If he doesn’t get this meth monkey off of his back, he’s going to spend the rest of his life going in and out of jail,” assistant district attorney Andy Baldock said.

Cesani is believed to have been part of a group of about 10 people who targeted mailboxes in the outlying areas of Fairbanks to steal checks and credit cards. Cesani had eight stolen credit cards on him when he was arrested last December, an event which led to the eventual break up of the mail theft ring.

Cesani’s court-appointed attorney, Jason Weiner, noted that his client has no prior felony record. He blamed Cesani’s actions on meth addiction.

“He understands as well as anybody that meth is a very destructive substance,” Weiner said. “I think he’ll get past this.”

Cesani did not speak at the brief hearing.

Local law enforcement agencies received more than 700 reports of mail theft or tampering between September and December 2008.

Cases ranged in severity from displaced mail being found at the side of the road to stolen checks and credit cards being used to purchase thousands of dollars worth of items from local businesses. Authorities estimated losses in the range of tens of thousands of dollars. Drugs, specifically methamphetamine, were the main motive for the thefts.

Five other people have so far pleaded guilty to taking part in the mail theft ring. Most have received sentences of about five years in prison.