CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A North Randall police officer was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for selling guns to two people that he knew were felons.

Kevin Lumpkin, 29, was found guilty in December of selling rifles, pistols and a ballistic vest to felons Calvin Kelly and Michelle Devine. Federal prosecutors showed that Lumpkin knew that the couple were felons.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Klump told U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaughan at Monday's sentencing that Lumpkin deserved a long prison sentence because he was in a position to know how dangerous his actions were. She labeled his conduct "unacceptable and outrageous."

But Lumpkin told the judge the he sold guns to the felons during "a different time in my life." He asked for leniency because he has worked to improve his life by purchasing a house and starting a family.

"I should have understood that people who live like felons are probably felons," Lumpkin said.

The U.S. Probation Office recommended that Lumpkin serve a sentence of between 63 and 78 months. Federal prosecutors asked for a longer prison term, while defense attorney Jay Milano asked for less.

Gaughan said that she thinks her sentence is a "significant period of time...for somebody who should have known better than anyone else the danger" of selling guns to felons. She also made note of the steps Lumpkin made to improve his life.

Lumpkin's deeds were first discovered in 2013, after Cleveland police found boxes for two of the guns while investigating a domestic violence complaint between Kelly and Devine.

Another pistol was recovered and traced to Lumpkin in April 2014 during a traffic stop by Solon police. Devine testified that she had given the gun to the suspect's brother.

Klump said that Lumpkin's actions were motivated by greed.

Milano said at the sentencing that his client has done everything he could "to rehabilitate himself in advance of this."

Lumpkin's conviction ended his career as a police officer. He had worked at the suburban police department since 2011.

He is free from jail on bond and will self-report to prison.

Devine testified against Lumpkin as part of a plea deal she struck with federal prosecutors in an unrelated tax-fraud case. She was sentenced in January to 28 months in federal prison.