One of three South Florida-based men accused of stealing $4.8 million in gold from a truck along a North Carolina interstate has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.

A federal judge sentenced Roberto Cabrera on Friday. He had faced up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty in April to robbery, firearms and other charges.

The FBI says Cabrera, Adalberto Perez and an unidentified third person used a GPS device in March 2015 to track the gold-laden tractor-trailer heading from Miami to Massachusetts. Investigators say pepper spray was released by remote control to sicken the driver and a passenger before the robbery along Interstate 95 in Wilson County, North Carolina.

The thieves made off with 275 pounds of gold bars.

Perez pleaded guilty to robbery and firearms charges last month but hasn't been sentenced.