AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Texas state senator who pleaded guilty to bribery turned himself in at a San Antonio courthouse Tuesday.

Carlos Uresti was previously sentenced on federal fraud charges to 12 years in prison for his part in a Ponzi scheme, but on Feb.13 received a 5-year prison term on the separate bribery charge.

Before entering the courthouse, he said a few words to the press, posed for photos with his family and said a prayer.

“You know, time is just time,” Uresti said. “I’m here to turn myself in. I’ve got some of my family, my lawyers. I’ve got the good book with me, and I’m going to make the best of this next journey.”

The 54-year-old Democrat was first elected to the Texas Legislature in 1997. Before becoming a state senator, he was a representative in the Texas house. He resigned in June 2018, shortly before he was sentenced to the 12 years in prison on 11 counts of money laundering and wire and securities fraud.

Uresti was general counsel for FourWinds Logistics, a company that prosecutors say operated a Ponzi scheme against its investors. The fracking sand company went bankrupt in 2015.