BOSTON (AP) – Arthur Brice and his friends were making a video urging people not to cooperate with the police. Unfortunately for him, several police officers walked by during the filming and found Brice carrying a loaded handgun.

Now Brice is headed to prison.

Brice, 32, of Lynn, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of a firearm and ammunition. Judge Margaret Hinkle sentenced him to three years in prison as an armed career criminal, based in part on an earlier conviction on a gun charge.

Prosecutors said Brice was with friends recording a video in Boston on Aug. 14, 2004, when police on patrol in the area came upon the group filming themselves drinking, doing drugs and threatening “snitches.” A T-shirt with the message “Stop Snitchin”‘ was displayed on a wall behind the men.

When the police approached Brice and frisked him, they discovered that he was carrying a loaded handgun, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said if the case had gone to trial, they would have used the videotape as evidence. Police were prepared to testify that they saw Brice hand a marijuana cigarette to a friend and attempt to leave after noticing them.