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MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced Thursday to more than 20 years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty late last year to federal charges that he violated George Floyd鈥檚 civil rights when he took Floyd鈥檚 life in May 2020.

Chauvin is currently serving a 22陆-year sentence for his conviction on state murder and manslaughter charges at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights. As part of his federal plea agreement, Chauvin will serve his state and federal sentences at the same time in federal prison.

Chauvin鈥檚 federal plea deal reached last year also admits guilt for a 2017 incident where he repeatedly struck 14-year-old John Pope and kneeled on his neck and upper back for about 15 minutes. Pope, now 19 years old, sued the city of Minneapolis in May.

鈥淚 hope he takes this time to think about what he could have done differently and what he did to others,鈥� Pope told the court Thursday, noting that Chauvin's brutality went unchallenged for three years until Floyd鈥檚 killing.

Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd鈥檚 murder sparked unrest in the Twin Cities and across the country, as well as calls to re-envision American policing.

Prosecutor LeeAnn Bell told the court prior to sentencing that Chauvin鈥檚 sentence 鈥渘eeds to reflect the intentionality. He wasn鈥檛 a rookie. He鈥檇 been a police officer for years. He knew what his training was. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he did it anyway.鈥�

Just before sentencing, Chauvin gave a brief statement where he addressed the Pope and Floyd families, although he did not apologize to either family for his actions.

"To the Pope family, Mr Pope: I hope you have a good relationship with your mother and also your sister, and I hope that you have the ability to get the best education possible to lead a productive and rewarding life,鈥� Chauvin said.

To Floyd's children, he said: "I just want to say that I wish them all the best in their life and have excellent guidance in becoming great adults.鈥�

Before handing down the verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson told Chauvin, 鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know why you did what you did. But to put your knee on another person鈥檚 neck until they鈥檙e deceased is wrong. And for that you must be substantially punished.鈥�

Prosecutors asked Magnuson last month to sentence Chauvin to 25 years in prison, arguing that Chauvin鈥檚 actions against Floyd were 鈥渃old-blooded,鈥� and that Chauvin deserves a higher sentence for an earlier incident where he used a similar tactic on a 14-year-old boy.

Prosecutors also argued that a higher sentence would send a message to other police officers 鈥渢hat although they undoubtedly have a difficult job, and one that sometimes carries life and death responsibilities, their role in our criminal justice system is a limited one, and does not include imposing punishment.鈥�

Chauvin鈥檚 attorney, Eric Nelson, asked the court last month to sentence Chauvin to no more than 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Minnesota Department of Corrections

Nelson cited sealed letters from friends and family and 鈥渢housands鈥� of letters of support he says Chauvin received from across the country that 鈥渟peaks to his character and qualities as a human being.鈥� Nelson argued that it鈥檚 clear Chauvin has expressed remorse for his actions and is ready to 鈥渃ontinue to atone for his wrongdoing.鈥�

During Thursday鈥檚 sentencing hearing, the victim impact statement from Courteney Ross, Floyd鈥檚 girlfriend, was read to the court. "I don鈥檛 hate you, Mr Chauvin,鈥� it read. 鈥淚鈥檓 working on forgiving you because that鈥檚 what George Floyd would want me to do."

Carolyn Pawlenty, Chauvin's mother, thanked supporters and denounced the "misinformation" in the media that her son is racist and has no heart. "Everyone in Minnesota needs to heal and realize that all lives matter, no matter the color of your skin. Every life matters.鈥�

She asked for federal prison placement in Minnesota or Iowa, close to family.

Three other former Minneapolis officers charged in Floyd鈥檚 killing were convicted in federal court in February of violating Floyd鈥檚 civil rights. They鈥檝e yet to be sentenced.

Former officer Thomas Lane pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter in state court in May. He鈥檚 scheduled to be sentenced in September.

Former officers Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng鈥檚 trial on state charges of aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter is scheduled for October. Both men rejected plea deals from prosecutors.

Magnuson on Thursday made a point of telling Chauvin of the collateral damage he鈥檇 caused to Kueng, Lane and Thao. By taking control of the Floyd arrest scene that day, the judge told Chauvin he鈥檇 鈥渁bsolutely destroyed the lives of three other young officers.鈥�