AUBURN - A drug dealer who was about to be sentenced to prison had to re-affirm her guilt in Cayuga County Court Tuesday when it was discovered she had told a parole officer she was not really guilty of selling cocaine.

Michele Flowers, 47, of 28 Danforth St., Rochester, told an officer prior to coming to court that the police had made up the charges against her when she refused to help them with another case.

But Flowers admitted in court that the charge of felony fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance was not trumped up by police and that she did sell cocaine from her prior residence at 33 Seymour St., Auburn.

Flowers was then sentenced to a 2.5 year prison sentence.

During her sentencing, Flowers said she had turned her life around while she was out on bail by joining a church and entering into a drug rehabilitation program to deal with her long-term addiction.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Flowers' criminal record, which spanned more than 30 years, stemmed from crimes to get money to purchase drugs.

As a result of her drug dependency, Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich said he would sign a drug treatment order allowing Flowers to participate in a rehabilitation program while in prison.

Flowers would be eligible for early release from prison with the successful completion of the program.