KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A Hampton man was sentenced to nearly four years behind bars for allegedly trying to ship body armor to Bogota, Columbia, the Dept. of Justice announced on Thursday.

Jerome Stuart Pendzich, 34, was convicted of trying to export controlled "small arms protective inserts" for bulletproof vests. He was sentenced to 46 months in a federal prison.

The inserts are classified as defense articles under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic In Arms Regulations. He pleaded guilty on January 13, 2011.