GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A man who robbed a bank to pay back heroin dealers was sentenced Monday, Dec. 16, to 6½ years in federal prison.

Bradley James Smit told investigators that his inspiration for the robbery came from his stepfather, who is in federal prison for robbing a bank.

Smit said drug use led to his downfall. He’s a father of four, and knows he should be taking care of them, not using drugs or robbing banks.

“I am a great father when I am not using drugs,” he wrote in a letter to U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker.

“I love my children dearly and try to put them first in my life.”

Related: FBI: Following father's advice lands Grand Rapids man in jail for bank robbery

He said he "shattered the trust" he built with his kids while out of prison the last two years.

Jonker sentenced Smith to the maximum prison term under advisory sentencing guidelines.

On July 2, Smit robbed Fifth Third Bank at 2465 Burton St. SE, in Grand Rapids. He was arrested five days later, at a house on Rosemary Street SE, when a Grand Rapids Probation Department worker recognized him from surveillance photos.

Smit initially denied involvement. Later, he told police he took a city bus to the bank and handed the teller a note that read, “Give me all the money.”

He got $1,290.

His attorney, Richard Stroba, said Smit, 37, has a “history of physical, mental and substance abuse afflictions.”

He said Smit takes many medications for mental and physical disabilities. Smith was in a serious car crash in 2009.

“Indeed, the list of various medications to treat Mr. Smit’s physical and mental health conditions is formidable,” Stroba wrote. “One can only imagine the toxic soup created by the combination of the prescription and non-prescription medications.”

Stroba said that Smith “is a well-spoken man with a very good understanding of the weaknesses he has and the detrimental effect these have had on his life. He is painfully aware that his bad decisions have adversely impacted his children.”

Once his prison term ends, Smit will be on supervised release for three years. He was ordered to pay $1,290 in restitution.

John Agar covers crime for MLive/Grand Rapids Press E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar

